AP-NORC poll: 64% of Americans say AI is developing too fast
8 in 10 say keeping it under human control is a top priority; 67% disapprove of Trump on AI
Confirmed
The takeaway
An Associated Press-NORC poll published Oct 8, 2026 found that 64% of US adults think AI is developing “too fast” (27% about right, 8% too slow).
Status
- Claim
Confirmed
- Our reporting
- High confidence
- Importance
- 2 of 5
- Last verified
- 8 October 2026
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Key facts
- 64% too fast, 27% about right, 8% too slow
- About 8 in 10: extremely/very important for the US government to ensure AI stays under human control; about as many prioritize protecting the workforce
- Partisan split on speed: about three-quarters of Democrats vs about half of Republicans say ‘too fast’; under-30s more worried than over-60s
- Republicans more likely to prioritize growing the economy and competing with China; Democrats more likely to prioritize minimizing environmental harm
- 67% disapprove of Trump’s handling of AI; about 4 in 10 trust neither party on AI, nearly 2 in 10 trust both equally
- Field dates and sample size were not given in the syndicated AP story
What happened
The AP story quotes voters from Utah, Minnesota and New Mexico worried about jobs, children and the lack of regulation. It came out on the same day Trump called anyone who says “Artificial Intelligence” instead of “Super Intelligence” “THE ENEMY” (see the executive-order entry).
Why it matters
It is the third major poll in two weeks (after Quinnipiac and Reuters/Ipsos) showing broad, bipartisan unease about the pace of AI and low approval of the administration’s approach before the US midterms.
Sources
1 source from 1 site. Numbers match the chips in the text.
1 source: 1 press
Press
Changes
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