Politico · 16 Sep, 09:45 · Artificial Intelligence briefing

Poll: Americans say there’s a serious risk of AI destroying humanity

A recent Politico report highlights a poll indicating that a significant portion of Americans perceive a serious risk of artificial intelligence destroying humanity.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

25–40%salary premium for professionals with applied AI skills

11xgrowth in AI job adverts since 2019

66%of leaders won't hire without AI literacy

20days to your first credential

The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

A recent Politico report highlights a poll indicating that a significant portion of Americans perceive a serious risk of artificial intelligence destroying humanity. This finding underscores growing public anxiety regarding the long-term existential threats posed by advanced technological systems. Rather than focusing solely on immediate economic displacement, the data suggests a broader societal concern about AI safety and control. For professionals, this signals that ethical considerations and risk mitigation are becoming central to public discourse, moving beyond technical capabilities to address fundamental questions about human survival and technological governance in an increasingly automated world.

Employer demand for AI Strategy skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This shift in public sentiment means you must treat AI governance as a core strategic priority, not a peripheral concern. Roles focusing on risk assessment, ethical compliance, and strategic oversight will gain significant value across industries. You should prioritise understanding the regulatory landscape and developing frameworks for safe AI deployment. If you are in leadership, integrate ethical AI principles into your organisational culture immediately. For technical professionals, upskilling in safety protocols and interpretability is essential. Do not ignore these signals; instead, position yourself as a bridge between innovation and responsibility. Invest in courses that teach you how to manage technological risk effectively, ensuring your career remains relevant in a landscape increasingly defined by caution and regulatory scrutiny.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are AI Strategy, Risk Management Strategies, Compliance And Governance and Artificial Intelligence — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.