85% of Registered Voters Support the United States Working with China to Mitigate AI Risks, according to New Poll

As President Trump and President Xi prepare to meet in Washington on September 24, new YouGov polling commissioned by the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and ReThink Media finds that nearly 80 percent of registered voters, across party lines, say it is in the interest of U.S. national security to work with China to mitigate catastrophic threats associated with nuclear risks, AI development, and bioterrorism.

The results reflect widespread concern about AI risks, precipitated by the high-profile resignation of an Anthropic researcher, reports of AI agents conducting unauthorized cyberattacks, and an outcry from members of the AI community who warn that, left unchecked, the technology could lead to human extinction within the next decade.

The results of the poll of 1,000 registered voters reflect heightened awareness of AI risks, with 81 percent of respondents expressing concern about the potential for AI to bring about a nuclear or biological catastrophe. It found that, when given the choice between working with China to reduce AI risks over moving as fast as possible to win the AI race, 85 percent of respondents said they support working with China.

Only 34 percent of respondents said the United States should treat China as an adversary when it comes to AI development, and there was a strong generational divide, with 46 percent of voters aged 65+ viewing China as an adversary compared to only 15 percent of voters aged 18-29. 

Prior to the Beijing Trump-Xi summit in May, NTI CEO Christine E. Wormuth released a statement outlining potential opportunities for U.S.-China cooperation. President Trump has previously demonstrated concern about nuclear risks, and at next week’s summit, he and President Xi will again have an opportunity to take steps towards reducing these catastrophic risks.

The poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters between September 10 and September 14, 2026, with a margin of error ±3.6 percent.

Highlights of the poll include:

• 85 percent of registered voters say that the United States should manage AI risks responsibly and work with China to reduce risks, rather than prioritize moving as fast as possible on AI development.

95 percent of Democrats, 90 percent of Independents, 75 percent of Republicans.

• 79 percent of registered voters say that it is in the interest of U.S. national security to work with China on catastrophic threats associated with nuclear risks, AI development, and bioterrorism.

85 percent of Democrats, 75 percent of Independents, and 75 percent of Republicans.

• 83 percent of registered voters support engaging with China to prevent a nuclear arms race between the two countries.

86 percent of Democrats, 72 percent of Independents, 81 percent of Republicans.

• 82 percent of registered voters support the United States and China agreeing to shared safety rules that make it harder to cause harm by using new technologies to create and modify pathogens.

86 percent of Democrats, 84 percent of Independents, 79 percent of Republicans.

• 81 percent of registered voters worry that AI could bring about biological or nuclear catastrophe.

89 percent of Democrats, 78 percent of Independents, 74 percent of Republicans.