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    AI

    63% of Americans reportedly see at least a moderate risk of AI destroying humanity

    Politico reports that a plurality favor pausing development of more advanced AI models. A post sharing the poll calls the findings a “mandate” for policymakers to pause AI.

    Nathan LambertNL
    Gary MarcusGM
    David Krueger 🦥 ⏸️ ⏹️ ⏪DK
    16 Sources, ,

    TLDR

    Politico reports that 63% of Americans see at least a moderate risk of AI destroying humanity, and that a plurality favor pausing development of more advanced models. A post sharing the poll gives the pause split as 48% yes, 31% no and 22% unsure, calling it a “mandate” for policymakers.

    One commentator predicts large, relatively bipartisan majorities concerned about AI risk, though for different reasons. Separately, a critic rejects the narrative that AI will kill every human.

    Combined views

    804.1K

    16 Sources, first seen 21d ago

    Combined views

    804.1K

    16 Sources, first seen 21d ago

    2.9K likes
    21d ago
    first seen 21d ago
    2.9K likes
    637 comments
    697 saves
    467 reposts
    637 comments
    697 saves
    467 reposts

    Sentiment

    Positive14.2%85.8%Negative

    Summary

    Negative replies dismissed polls on AI risks to humanity as fabricated propaganda from doomer groups, while positive accounts welcomed chart updates showing rising AI salience.

    Based on 122 sentiment-bearing replies from 113 accounts across 3 conversations.

    Sentiment

    Positive14.2%85.8%Negative

    Summary

    Negative replies dismissed polls on AI risks to humanity as fabricated propaganda from doomer groups, while positive accounts welcomed chart updates showing rising AI salience.

    Based on 122 sentiment-bearing replies from 113 accounts across 3 conversations.

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    16 Sources

    David Krueger 🦥 ⏸️ ⏹️ ⏪@DavidSKruegerThis is massive. Policymakers have a MANDATE to pause AI! 63% of Americans and 61% of TRUMP VOTERS think there's at least a moderate risk AI will DESTROY HUMANITY. A full 17% say it's ALMOST CERTAIN. So should we pause? 48% yes 31% no 22% don't know That's a MANDATE.21d
    The Alliance for Secure AI@secureainowConcern about AI crosses party lines: 61% of Trump voters and 70% of Harris voters see at least a moderate risk that advanced AI will destroy humanity, according to a POLITICO poll. Americans recognize what’s at stake. Congress must act to address AI risks.21d
    David Bellamy@DavidRBellamyThe severe distortion of public opinion due to superintelligence fearmongering by ‘pundits’ is a tragedy and may result in the Third AI Winter. My heartfelt apologies on behalf of my community, especially to those suffering patients whose cures could be delayed by this field’s auto-cannibalization.21d
    Andrew Curran@AndrewCurran_The Coxon cascade appears to have had an immediate impact on public opinion. New polling from Politico, taken over the last few days, finds that nearly two-thirds of Americans now say there is at least a moderate risk that AI will destroy humanity.21d
    Nate Silver@NateSilver538Yeah, I think you're likely to see very large and relatively bipartisan majorities concerned about AI risk. People will have many different reasons for these concerns, some more well-grounded than others, but likely a fair amount of directional agreement.21d
    David Shor@davidshorJust to update this chart: 1) AI salience has increased dramatically in the past week - increasing as much in the last week as the previous year combined 2) 80% of voters think it's either very or somewhat likely that AI will cause widespread job loss in the five to ten years 3) 64% of voters think it's either very or somewhat likely that AI could pose a threat to humanity's survival 4) Large bipartisan majorities back immediate government action on AI even when primed about risk from China21d
    Gary Marcus@GaryMarcusI am sorry, who said “AI is fake”? Strawmen are very much in season.21d
    Taylor Lorenz@TaylorLorenzRT @DavidRBellamy: The severe distortion of public opinion due to superintelligence fearmongering by ‘pundits’ is a tragedy and may result…21d
    Timothy B. Lee@binarybitsThis is wild. (I would have said "very small risk.") https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/16/poll-ai-technology-risks-humanity-trump-voters-0107808720d
    Nathan Lambert@natolambertWhat it looks like when yelling too loudly about AI risk too early may start to hurt your plans.20d

    16 Sources

    David Krueger 🦥 ⏸️ ⏹️ ⏪@DavidSKruegerThis is massive. Policymakers have a MANDATE to pause AI! 63% of Americans and 61% of TRUMP VOTERS think there's at least a moderate risk AI will DESTROY HUMANITY. A full 17% say it's ALMOST CERTAIN. So should we pause? 48% yes 31% no 22% don't know That's a MANDATE.21d
    The Alliance for Secure AI@secureainowConcern about AI crosses party lines: 61% of Trump voters and 70% of Harris voters see at least a moderate risk that advanced AI will destroy humanity, according to a POLITICO poll. Americans recognize what’s at stake. Congress must act to address AI risks.21d
    David Bellamy@DavidRBellamyThe severe distortion of public opinion due to superintelligence fearmongering by ‘pundits’ is a tragedy and may result in the Third AI Winter. My heartfelt apologies on behalf of my community, especially to those suffering patients whose cures could be delayed by this field’s auto-cannibalization.21d
    Andrew Curran@AndrewCurran_The Coxon cascade appears to have had an immediate impact on public opinion. New polling from Politico, taken over the last few days, finds that nearly two-thirds of Americans now say there is at least a moderate risk that AI will destroy humanity.21d
    Nate Silver@NateSilver538Yeah, I think you're likely to see very large and relatively bipartisan majorities concerned about AI risk. People will have many different reasons for these concerns, some more well-grounded than others, but likely a fair amount of directional agreement.21d
    David Shor@davidshorJust to update this chart: 1) AI salience has increased dramatically in the past week - increasing as much in the last week as the previous year combined 2) 80% of voters think it's either very or somewhat likely that AI will cause widespread job loss in the five to ten years 3) 64% of voters think it's either very or somewhat likely that AI could pose a threat to humanity's survival 4) Large bipartisan majorities back immediate government action on AI even when primed about risk from China21d
    Gary Marcus@GaryMarcusI am sorry, who said “AI is fake”? Strawmen are very much in season.21d
    Taylor Lorenz@TaylorLorenzRT @DavidRBellamy: The severe distortion of public opinion due to superintelligence fearmongering by ‘pundits’ is a tragedy and may result…21d
    Timothy B. Lee@binarybitsThis is wild. (I would have said "very small risk.") https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/16/poll-ai-technology-risks-humanity-trump-voters-0107808720d
    Nathan Lambert@natolambertWhat it looks like when yelling too loudly about AI risk too early may start to hurt your plans.20d