Americans want AI companies to slow down
Core finding
In a Verasight survey of 1,500 U.S. adults conducted September 16 to 21, 2026, 62.6% want AI development to slow down. Just 4.7% want it to speed up.
Given a choice between two hypothetical AI companies, 73.4% prefer the one that develops more slowly and spends more time on safety testing, even if its tools are less advanced.
Few want faster development
Support for slowing development is higher than support for either keeping the current pace (18.6%) or speeding up (4.7%). Another 14.1% are unsure.
The question asks about the pace of AI development overall. It does not specify a particular technology, company or restriction.
Topline
62.6% want AI development to slow, while 18.6% want the current pace and 4.7% want it to speed up.
n = 1,500 · Sep 16–21, 2026 · MoE ±2.6%
More safety testing has broad appeal
The slower company with more safety testing attracts 73.4%, compared with 11.7% for the faster company with more advanced tools. Another 14.8% are unsure.
Concern about serious harm from developing AI too quickly (45.2%) exceeds concern about the United States falling behind China (10.7%). Another 35.6% worry equally about both risks.
Topline
73.4% of Americans prefer the hypothetical AI company that develops more slowly and tests safety more, compared with 11.7% who prefer faster development.
n = 1,500 · Sep 16–21, 2026 · MoE ±2.6%
Topline
45.2% are more worried about harm from AI developing too quickly; 10.7% are more worried about falling behind China and 35.6% worry equally about both.
n = 1,500 · Sep 16–21, 2026 · MoE ±2.6%
Companies are expected to take responsibility
Asked who should slow development, 54.9% put responsibility on AI companies and 36.7% on government. Another 8.4% say development should not slow.
Before that question, respondents read a statement saying some AI executives had called for a slowdown. These results describe reactions to that statement, alongside the separate questions about pace and safety.
Topline
54.9% say AI companies should be responsible for slowing development, compared with 36.7% who assign that role to government.
n = 1,500 · Sep 16–21, 2026 · MoE ±2.6%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Sep 16–21, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,500 |
| Margin of error | ±2.6% |
| Module | Current Events Survey #2026-243 |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/2026-243-current-events-report
Thinking about how fast artificial intelligence is being developed, which comes closest to your view?
- reports.verasight.io/r/2026-243-current-events-report
Which of these worries you more about artificial intelligence — AI could be developed too quickly and cause serious harm, or the United States could fall behind China in developing AI?
- reports.verasight.io/r/2026-243-current-events-report
Who should be responsible for slowing down the pace of AI development?
- reports.verasight.io/r/2026-243-current-events-report
Which would you choose?
In the news
Cite this topic
September Verasight National Survey: Current Events and Prediction Markets, fielded September 16-21, 2026, N=1,500 US adults age 18+, +/- 2.6%.