PauseAI UKUK

Global Attitudes to AI 2026

How 377,458 people across 104 countries feel about the development of superintelligent AI: an interactive look at the Nira Data Spring 2026 World Omnibus.

377,458Respondents
104Countries surveyed
60%Want development slowed, paused or stopped

The question asked

Some companies are working on developing superintelligent AI (artificial intelligence) that can outperform humans in all tasks. Which comes closest to your view?

Six in ten people globally want AI development slowed in some form. Fewer than one in five want it developed “as quickly as possible”.

Global averagen=377,458 · ±0.2pp (approx.)
-42
Stop development permanently
Pause development until it is proven safe
Continue development with strict oversight
Continue development as quickly as possible
Not sure
Net opinion: Rapid-development support minus combined opposition (stop + pause + oversight)

Read the full report.

Explore the map

Hover any country to see its full breakdown.

Opposed to rapid development
In favour of rapid development
Other
Loading map…
Stop development permanently
8%
43%
No data

All 104 countries

Filter by region, sort by opinion, or search for a country.

#1Greecen=1,743 · ±2.9pp
-60
#2Lebanonn=2,914 · ±2.1pp
-56
#3Ukrainen=2,109 · ±2.6pp
-55
#4Serbian=2,238 · ±2.3pp
-55
#5New Zealandn=837 · ±4.3pp
-55
#6Hungaryn=1,671 · ±2.9pp
-53
#7Tunisian=5,048 · ±1.6pp
-53
#8Swedenn=1,874 · ±2.6pp
-52
#9United Kingdomn=5,656 · ±2pp
-52
#10Germanyn=4,818 · ±1.6pp
-52
#11Belarusn=2,696 · ±2pp
-52
#12Lithuanian=624 · ±4.8pp
-52
#13Puerto Ricon=664 · ±4.6pp
-52
#14Egyptn=4,644 · ±1.8pp
-52
#15Finlandn=1,879 · ±2.5pp
-51
#16Austrian=1,071 · ±3.4pp
-51
#17Norwayn=1,180 · ±3.2pp
-50
#18Yemenn=1,435 · ±3pp
-50
#19Algerian=5,486 · ±1.5pp
-50
#20Jordann=4,632 · ±1.7pp
-50
#21Kazakhstann=3,693 · ±1.8pp
-49
#22Venezuelan=2,703 · ±2.6pp
-48
#23Canadan=4,185 · ±2.1pp
-48
#24Romanian=2,840 · ±2.3pp
-47
#25South African=5,017 · ±1.6pp
-47
#26Syrian=2,158 · ±2.5pp
-47
#27Palestinen=4,020 · ±1.8pp
-47
#28Kuwaitn=1,596 · ±2.9pp
-47
#29Francen=4,536 · ±1.7pp
-46
#30Netherlandsn=4,615 · ±2.1pp
-46
#31Indonesian=4,805 · ±1.6pp
-46
#32Denmarkn=1,575 · ±3.5pp
-45
#33Jamaican=1,173 · ±3.5pp
-45
#34United Statesn=5,062 · ±1.9pp
-45
#35Uruguayn=2,748 · ±2.4pp
-45
#36Italyn=4,957 · ±1.7pp
-44
#37Belgiumn=1,971 · ±2.6pp
-44
#38Argentinan=2,859 · ±2.3pp
-44
#39Mexicon=5,103 · ±1.6pp
-44
#40Cameroonn=2,249 · ±2.4pp
-44
#41Taiwann=5,887 · ±1.5pp
-44
#42Uzbekistann=4,475 · ±1.7pp
-44
#43Georgian=2,220 · ±2.6pp
-44
#44Spainn=2,196 · ±2.6pp
-43
#45Tanzanian=1,262 · ±3.1pp
-43
#46South Korean=4,439 · ±1.6pp
-43
#47Australian=3,664 · ±2.2pp
-43
#48Polandn=2,839 · ±2.1pp
-42
#49Panaman=2,516 · ±2.2pp
-42
#50Kenyan=5,068 · ±1.6pp
-42
#51Kyrgyzstann=2,300 · ±2.4pp
-42
#52Chilen=2,588 · ±2.3pp
-41
#53Perun=4,784 · ±1.5pp
-41
#54Iraqn=9,092 · ±1.2pp
-41
#55Philippinesn=7,315 · ±1.4pp
-41
#56Irelandn=1,385 · ±3.1pp
-40
#57Costa Rican=2,500 · ±2.2pp
-40
#58Congon=1,388 · ±3.1pp
-40
#59Ugandan=3,866 · ±1.8pp
-40
#60Zimbabwen=4,756 · ±1.6pp
-40
#61Mozambiquen=806 · ±3.8pp
-40
#62Ivory Coastn=3,534 · ±1.9pp
-40
#63Sri Lankan=2,908 · ±2pp
-40
#64Thailandn=3,954 · ±1.9pp
-40
#65Portugaln=3,288 · ±1.9pp
-39
#66Switzerlandn=728 · ±4.2pp
-39
#67El Salvadorn=3,556 · ±1.9pp
-39
#68Colombian=3,519 · ±1.9pp
-39
#69Moroccon=6,778 · ±1.3pp
-39
#70Russian=1,520 · ±2.6pp
-38
#71Braziln=2,995 · ±2.6pp
-38
#72Ecuadorn=5,277 · ±1.5pp
-38
#73Paraguayn=3,611 · ±1.9pp
-38
#74Zambian=1,099 · ±3.4pp
-38
#75Senegaln=3,165 · ±2.1pp
-38
#76Bangladeshn=6,823 · ±1.4pp
-38
#77Moldovan=846 · ±3.8pp
-37
#78Guatemalan=5,232 · ±1.6pp
-37
#79Dominican Republicn=3,886 · ±1.8pp
-37
#80Nicaraguan=5,851 · ±1.5pp
-37
#81Turkeyn=3,011 · ±2.1pp
-37
#82Indian=15,137 · ±0.9pp
-37
#83Namibian=1,171 · ±3.2pp
-36
#84Nigern=161 · ±9.2pp
-36
#85Angolan=2,605 · ±2.1pp
-36
#86Libyan=7,680 · ±1.3pp
-36
#87Omann=1,735 · ±2.9pp
-36
#88Malaysian=4,613 · ±1.7pp
-36
#89Hondurasn=4,535 · ±1.7pp
-35
#90Ghanan=4,178 · ±1.8pp
-35
#91Israeln=2,010 · ±2.6pp
-35
#92Pakistann=7,236 · ±1.3pp
-35
#93Vietnamn=16,877 · ±0.9pp
-35
#94Bolivian=6,071 · ±1.4pp
-34
#95Chinan=3,648 · ±2pp
-34
#96Nigerian=7,253 · ±1.4pp
-33
#97Ethiopian=4,140 · ±1.9pp
-32
#98Saudi Arabian=6,486 · ±1.4pp
-31
#99Japann=6,733 · ±1.3pp
-31
#100Tajikistann=487 · ±5.2pp
-30
#101Bahrainn=522 · ±5.2pp
-29
#102Singaporen=3,720 · ±1.9pp
-29
#103United Arab Emiratesn=1,492 · ±3.1pp
-27
#104Qatarn=957 · ±3.9pp
-26

By demographic

Regional averages and demographic breakdowns from the survey, including a UK/US deep dive.

Europe
-48
Americas
-41
Middle East & North Africa
-41
Asia-Pacific
-41
Sub-Saharan Africa
-39

Methodology

Data from Nira Data’s Spring 2026 World Omnibus: 377,458 respondents across 104 countries, surveyed online and weighted to national benchmarks, fieldwork performed from 19 Mar to 21 Apr 2026. Margins of error per country are shown alongside each result. PauseAI UK did not commission this survey. We are republishing it because it is the most comprehensive recent look at global public opinion on AI development.

View the full report for the executive summary, questionnaire and full regional analysis.