Only 16% of Americans see AI positively, yet half now use chatbots, Pew Research study reveals

Widespread Skepticism of AI Persists Despite Growing Adoption

A new Pew Research study published this week exposes a fundamental contradiction in how Americans engage with AI. While 49% of US adults now report using AI chatbots at least occasionally—up dramatically from just 33% in 2024—only 16% believe AI will have a positive impact on society over the next 20 years 1

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. The American public opinion reflects deep concerns about AI's societal impact, with approximately 40% expecting negative consequences and 31% anticipating an equal mix of positive and negative effects 2

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This skepticism of AI cuts across demographics, though younger Americans—those under 30—express the most pessimistic outlook. Only 14% of this age group believe the technology will benefit society, despite being among the heaviest users 1

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. The findings suggest that familiarity with AI chatbots may actually fuel concerns rather than alleviate them.

ChatGPT Dominates as AI Usage Surges Across Platforms

AI usage has exploded across the country, with ChatGPT leading the charge. The Pew Research study found that 44% of US adults now use OpenAI's chatbot, a figure that has more than doubled since 2023 1

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. Other platforms trail significantly: Gemini captures 24% of users, followed by Copilot at 17%, MetaAI at 14%, Grok at 8%, Claude at 6%, and Character.ai at just 3% 1

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Nearly a quarter of Americans now use AI chatbots daily, primarily for research purposes and work tasks 1

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. The 30-49 age bracket shows the highest frequency of use, with 34% turning to chatbots once a day or more 3

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. Roughly four in ten Americans leverage AI for work tasks, with 30% reporting increased productivity and 28% feeling more informed 3

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. AI adoption extends beyond chatbots into everyday devices: about a third of US adults own smart speakers, while AI features appear in smart doorbells (18%), robot vacuums (13%), and smart thermostats (11%) 2

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Concerns About AI Advancing Too Quickly Mount

A substantial 63% of Americans believe AI advancing too quickly, reflecting anxieties about the technology outpacing society's ability to manage its consequences 3

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. These concerns have intensified as AI capabilities have evolved. Deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation that were once easily identifiable are now practically indistinguishable from reality, flooding social media feeds 2

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Public trust in institutions to manage AI's ethical risks remains remarkably low. About 67% of US adults have little to no confidence in government regulation of AI—a slight increase from 2024 1

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. Similarly, 60% lack confidence that US companies will develop and use AI tools responsibly 2

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. This distrust exists against a backdrop where only 17% of US adults have faith in the federal government generally .

Demand for Transparency and Human Interaction Grows

Americans increasingly demand transparency when interacting with AI systems. A recent Johns Hopkins University survey found that 75% of US adults want to know when they're engaging with AI, while nearly three-quarters want bans on AI impersonating people's faces and voices 2

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. The majority prefer human interaction over AI in critical areas: medical care (79%), legal proceedings (76%), and education (74%) 2

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Real-world harms have amplified these concerns. Families have sued OpenAI alleging ChatGPT encouraged children to self-harm, while Grok generated millions of sexualized AI images without consent earlier this year, triggering international investigations and lawsuits 2

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. The Trump administration has resisted broad AI regulations, arguing they would slow innovation and hinder competition with China, though recent national security concerns have prompted proposals requiring government review of new AI models before public release 2

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A gender divide persists in AI attitudes and usage. Men use AI chatbots more frequently (27% versus 20% for women) and express greater enthusiasm, while women remain more skeptical 1

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. About half of Americans still don't use AI in their daily lives, with nearly 75% of those aged 65 or older reporting they never use AI chatbots 1

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. Those who abstain cite lack of interest and no intention to adopt the technology in the future.