Survey: Why Americans are using AI more than ever yet still deeply distrust it

Roughly one in two U.S. adults now use AI chatbots, a sharp jump from just a third in the summer of 2024. Jeffrey Gottfried, William Bishop, Monica Anderson, Michelle Faverio, Eugenie Park and Colleen McClain write for Pew Research Center about a new survey of 5,119 adults. The data paints a picture of rapid adoption alongside widespread public distrust.

Chatbot use surges, ChatGPT leads

About a quarter of Americans use these tools daily, and 12 percent do so several times a day. Information search tops the list of uses (roughly four in ten adults), while 38 percent of employed adults turn to chatbots for work tasks. Smaller shares use them for fun, medical advice or news. One in ten even seek emotional support from a chatbot, and fewer use it for companionship.

ChatGPT remains dominant: 44 percent now use it, more than double the share in 2023. Google’s Gemini follows at around a quarter of adults, ahead of Copilot and Meta AI. Adults under 50 are roughly twice as likely as older age groups to use ChatGPT.

AI weaves into homes and search

Smart devices with AI features are also gaining ground. About a third of Americans own a smart speaker such as an Amazon Echo, while roughly one in five have a smart doorbell with AI. Robot vacuums and smart thermostats are less common but notable. Six in ten adults say they read AI-generated summaries in search engine results.

Skepticism runs deep, regulation doubts grow

Despite rising use, Americans remain pessimistic. Four in ten expect AI to harm society over the next 20 years, while fewer than a quarter see a positive net effect. Even adults under 30, who use chatbots heavily, are more likely to predict negative personal and societal impact. About two-thirds say AI is advancing too quickly.

Privacy fears are stark: roughly seven in ten believe AI will make their personal data less secure. Confidence in government regulation is eroding, with 67 percent expressing little to no trust, up from 62 percent in 2024. Democrats have grown more skeptical of the government’s role, while Republicans’ lack of confidence has dipped. Trust in companies to develop AI responsibly is also low, with about six in ten unconvinced.

The Pew survey captures a moment when generative AI becomes a routine tool for millions, yet public sentiment continues to lean toward caution and concern.