A recent Quinnipiac University poll, conducted from September 24 to 27, 2026, reveals that 86% of US adults support mandatory AI safety standards, even if these measures decelerate technological development. Furthermore, 91% of respondents emphasize the importance of implementing national guardrails for artificial intelligence.
Public skepticism toward industry self-regulation is high, with 74% of participants expressing little or no trust in AI companies to police themselves. A separate Reuters/Ipsos survey from September 2026 corroborates this sentiment, noting that 73% of respondents believe AI firms are failing to adequately prevent societal harm.
Concerns regarding the technology are significant, as 73% of those surveyed by Quinnipiac worry that AI could threaten human survival. This support for oversight spans the political spectrum, driven in part by geopolitical competition between the United States and China.
The data indicates a rising trend in public demand for regulation. A 2025 study by Gallup and the Special Competitive Studies Project showed 80% support for safety and data security rules, a figure that has grown to 86% in the latest findings. Policymakers now face clear pressure to establish independent safety benchmarks.
