According to a recent survey, fear of AI harming the political process ranks third among Americans, topping the fear of losing a loved one to death.

AI is arguably one of the most transformative technologies in history, revolutionizing countless industries, professions, and how people interact with technology. Despite, or perhaps because of, its transformative nature, AI also poses one of the greatest threats to humanity. Exactly how great that threat is depends entirely on who is asked. Proponents say AI has potential to cause real harm, but the risk is greatly overblown and the benefits outweigh the risks. Still others, including notable technologists like Elon Musk, say AI poses an existential threat to humanity.

Whatever the real threat is, Americans now rank AI among their greatest fears, according to Chapman University .…