Rethink Priorities
Summary
A nationwide poll of 2,444 US adults examined public opinions on AI research pause, regulation, extinction risks, and potential societal impacts. The survey revealed nuanced public attitudes toward AI's potential benefits and threats.
Review
The Rethink Priorities survey provides a comprehensive snapshot of US public sentiment regarding artificial intelligence in April 2023. The study's key contribution is its multi-dimensional exploration of AI perceptions, covering potential risks, regulatory preferences, and expected societal consequences. By employing careful polling methodology and comparing results with previous surveys, the researchers uncovered several noteworthy insights about public attitudes.
Methodologically, the survey was strategically designed to replicate and extend previous AI-related polls, using representative sampling and nuanced questioning techniques. Key findings include robust public support for AI research pauses (51%) and regulation (70%), relatively low daily worry about AI's negative effects, and increasing perceived extinction risk over longer time horizons. The research also revealed interesting demographic variations in AI risk perception, with differences emerging across age, gender, and political affiliations.
Key Points
- 51% support pausing certain AI research developments
- 70% favor government regulation of AI similar to FDA oversight
- 9% perceive AI extinction risk in next 10 years, increasing to 22% in 50 years
- 67% believe AI will ultimately become more intelligent than humans