Pew Research: Most Americans are skeptical of AI's long-term impact

A new study from Pew Research, a US-based non-partisan fact tank, reveals that most Americans are not optimistic about the long-term impact of artificial intelligence on the country. Although many use the technology, only 16% of Americans believe AI will have a positive impact on society over the next 20 years. In contrast, around 40% of Americans believe AI will have a negative impact. This skepticism is paired with a widespread belief that the technology is evolving too fast, as nearly two-thirds of Americans think AI development is occurring too quickly.

Despite these concerns, adoption of AI tools is growing, though it remains concentrated. About a quarter of Americans report using AI chatbots daily. Among these daily users, there is a slight gender gap: 27% of men use AI chatbots daily, compared to 20% of women. Furthermore, six in 10 respondents say they read AI-generated internet summaries.

However, about half of Americans do not use AI in their daily lives. This non-use is heavily concentrated among older demographics, as nearly 75% of Americans aged 65 or older never use AI chatbots. Among those who do use chatbots, OpenAI’s ChatGPT is the clear leader, used by 44% of U.S. adults—a figure that has grown since 2023. Other platforms see significantly lower adoption rates among U.S. adults:

• Gemini (developed by Google): 24%
• Copilot (developed by Microsoft): 17%
• Meta AI (developed by Meta): 14%
• Grok (developed by xAI): 8%
• Claude (developed by Anthropic): 6%
• Character.ai (developer of chatbot): 3%

This skepticism is also directed at the institutions managing the technology’s rollout. A vast majority of Americans do not believe the U.S. government will step in effectively, with 67% doubting that the government will meaningfully regulate AI. Trust in the private sector is similarly low. A similarly skeptical cohort of 59% of Americans don’t trust companies to develop it safely. This wariness is particularly pronounced among younger generations. Young people under 30 express the most negative feelings about AI, with only 14% of this group believing the technology will have a positive impact on society.

Why it matters

Despite the rapid adoption of AI tools, the public remains deeply skeptical of both the technology’s trajectory and the institutions responsible for its development and oversight. This widespread distrust suggests that tech companies and regulators face a steep climb in building public confidence, even as AI becomes more integrated into daily life.