Slow Your Roll: The AI Race Leaves Americans Unimpressed

Turns out the average American isn’t quite ready to hand over the keys to the AI express lane. According to the latest Axios Harris 100 poll, 77% of respondents would rather brands develop AI with care—even if it means waiting longer for results. That’s a solid majority, suggesting brands speeding toward artificial general intelligence might want to pump the brakes. Only 23% are on board with a “move fast and break things” approach in this arena, which could make some tech companies’ current messaging feel, well, out of touch.

Interestingly, this desire for caution cuts across generations—91% of Boomers and 77% of Gen X say "slow down," and even Gen Z, often seen as AI’s biggest cheerleaders, comes in at 74%. Millennials were the most impatient bunch at 63%, but still a clear majority. The poll’s implication? The AI gold rush might be a CEO obsession, not a consumer demand. Americans seem more concerned with avoiding early missteps than being the first to the AI finish line.

What’s behind the hesitation? Likely a few decades of tech regret—from privacy nightmares to social media side effects. As the digital dust settles, the public’s learned that early mistakes in platform development tend to stick. So while Silicon Valley sees a race toward dominance, the users see caution signs. For marketers and brands hoping to roll out AI-powered tools, the smart move (pun intended) may be to focus less on speed—and more on trust.

Learn more at Axios.