Most Americans think artificial intelligence is developing too fast, a new AP

A new AP-NORC poll finds that most Americans think artificial intelligence is developing too fast. WASHINGTON (AP) — Worries around artificial

The AP-NORC poll conducted April 2‑6 2024 surveyed 1,053 U.S. adults and found 62 percent believe artificial intelligence is advancing too quickly. Only 24 percent said the pace is about right, while 10 percent think it is moving too slowly. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points. The poll also asked about government action, with 71 percent favoring stronger federal oversight of AI development.

If federal AI oversight expands, companies that embed generative models in products may face new compliance testing that adds an average of $3 per user per month to subscription fees. Adobe announced in March 2024 that its Firefly AI suite will undergo external audits to meet anticipated standards, a process expected to raise operating costs by roughly 8 percent. Those higher costs are likely to be reflected in the price of Creative Cloud plans, which currently start at $20.99 per month for individuals. Consequently, a typical subscriber could see their bill rise to near $24 per month within the next six months.

The current anxiety echoes the 2018 period when 58 percent of Americans called for tighter data‑privacy rules after the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Then, Congress held hearings but failed to pass comprehensive legislation, leaving regulation to state‑level experiments. Insiders note that the White House’s AI Bill of Rights, unveiled in October 2023, remains a nonbinding framework that agencies have yet to enforce. That gap between public concern and stalled federal action is why the AP-NORC poll shows such a strong push for oversight now.

The Senate Commerce Committee is set to vote on June 12 2024 on a bipartisan bill that would require impact assessments for high‑risk AI systems. If passed, the legislation would mandate third‑party testing for models used in hiring, credit scoring, and medical diagnostics. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the compliance cost for industry at $1.2 billion annually, a figure that could shift pricing strategies across sectors. Surprisingly, a recent study by Stanford’s AI Index shows that 41 percent of firms already conduct internal impact assessments, suggesting many may be closer to compliance than policymakers assume.