AI Safety Benchmarks Gain Broad Public Support in New Poll

A new poll has found that the American public is overwhelmingly in favor of requiring AI companies to meet safety standards, even if it means slowing down technological progress.

The Quinnipiac University poll, conducted between September 24 and 27, 2026, found that 86% of US adults support requiring AI companies to meet safety benchmarks. This number is consistent with a previous Gallup poll from 2025, which also showed strong public support for rules on AI safety and data security.

The poll results also highlighted the importance of independent safety benchmarks, where a third party or government checks the work rather than companies grading their own homework. In fact, a staggering 91% of respondents said that US guardrails for artificial intelligence are important.