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Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds Broad U.S. Voter Concern Over AI Risks and Regulation

October 7, 2026 at 13:06 EDT

Policy & Regulation
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Infra & Chips

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 62% of U.S. registered voters agree that the uncontrollable effects of artificial intelligence could be so harmful that they may risk the future of humankind. The result adds political weight to a widening fight over whether Washington should rely on voluntary commitments from frontier-AI companies or move toward binding rules.

October 2026 · U.S. voters

AI risk becomes a voter issue

Most registered voters now support stricter AI regulation, while concern spans existential risk, jobs, military use and the growth of data centers.

62%

say uncontrollable AI could risk humankind's future

84%

see AI as a threat to American workers

69%

support stricter government regulation of AI

56%

support pausing or limiting new AI data centers

The core split: future-risk concern

Registered voters were asked whether uncontrollable AI effects could be harmful enough to risk humankind's future.

Regulatory mandate

Support for stricter rules cuts across the broader concern that current safeguards may not match the technology's pace.

Unresolved limit

The main federal approach remains voluntary, leaving open the question of what happens if companies do not comply.

Poll frame

Window
Sep. 30 to Oct. 5

Sample
4,506 adults

Voters
3,526 registered voters

Voter margin
+/-1.7 pts

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