{
  "id": 7766637,
  "title": "Poll: Americans say there’s a serious risk of AI destroying humanity",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/poll-americans-say-theres-a-serious-risk-of-ai-destroying-humanity",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-16T10:38:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Politico EU",
    "slug": "politico-eu",
    "url": "https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/16/poll-ai-technology-risks-humanity-trump-voters-01078087"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A majority of Americans, roughly two-thirds, believe advanced artificial intelligence could potentially destroy humanity, according to a recent POLITICO Poll. This sentiment has gained momentum following calls from leaders of top AI companies like Anthropic's Dario Amodei and OpenAI's Sam Altman, who, alongside Elon Musk, urged for a slowdown in AI development. The survey found that political leanings play a role in these fears, with Democrats and Republicans showing more alignment on this issue compared to previous months. While 70% of voters who supported Kamala Harris in 2024 expressed concern over AI's potential risks, 60% of Trump supporters shared the same apprehension. Despite the warnings from AI insiders, a significant portion of Americans—around 26%—still view these leaders' concerns as exaggerated marketing ploys. The survey also revealed that Americans are inclined to adopt a cautious approach towards AI, favoring responsible development over rapid advancement, even if it means falling behind other nations like China. This shift in perspective has presented a political challenge for President Trump, who continues to advocate for unbridled AI development, dismissing the risks as a \"HOAX.\" As Democrats consider establishing a special committee to address AI concerns, and Republicans debate the extent of their support for regulation, the issue is likely to gain further traction ahead of the 2028 elections.",
  "summary": "A new POLITICO Poll finds that a plurality of Americans favor pausing the development of more advanced AI models, and 63 percent say the technology poses at least a moderate risk of destroying humanity.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Americans are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of AI, new poll finds",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/americans-are-increasingly-concerned-about-the-environmental-impact",
        "published": "2026-09-16T09:09:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}