What percentage of Americans think AI is bad for humanity?

While there are many useful applications for AI, there are also a lot of reasons why Americans are wary of the technology. Reuters/Ipsos polled 4,446 U.S. adults on Aug. 13-18 and found quite a few things about AI that have people concerned.

One of respondents’ top fears was job security, with 71 percent saying they’re concerned that AI will be “putting too many people out of work permanently.” Another top concern was politics, with 77 percent expressing a worry about its role in “political chaos caused by U.S. rivals.” Sixty-six percent of respondents are afraid that AI will replace in-person relationships, while 61 percent are concerned about its increased electricity consumption.

Respondents were split on their concerns about AI in the classroom, with 36 percent saying they thought the tech will be helpful in education while 40 said it would not (the rest were unsure or didn’t answer). Forty-seven percent answered yes when asked if they think AI is bad for humanity, while 31 percent said no. Fifty-eight percent said they feared “AI could risk the future of humankind,” while 20 percent disagreed. And 67 percent are afraid “AI will have uncontrollable consequences,” compared to just 14 percent who are not.