Despite a sharp increase in the use of AI chatbots, a large majority of Americans remain skeptical about the technology’s impact on society. According to a recent poll by Pew Research, only 16 percent of respondents believe AI will have a positive effect, while nearly half anticipate negative consequences.
The data shows a paradox: AI adoption continues to climb, even as public opinion sours. Nearly half of American adults reported using AI chatbots, with a quarter of them engaging daily. This marks a substantial rise compared to the previous year, when one-third of adults said they used these tools. Notably, ChatGPT remains the most popular platform by a wide margin.
Age plays a crucial role in the contrasting attitudes and usage patterns. Younger adults aged 18 to 29 are the most likely to use AI, with two-thirds reporting usage, yet almost half of them predict AI will harm society. Adults aged 30 to 49 and those 50 and older show lower usage rates—though still significant—alongside slightly less negative views. For instance, less than a quarter of those 65 and older use AI chatbots, and their perception is somewhat less pessimistic than Gen Z’s.
This gap between growing AI utilization and declining favorability raises questions about the reasons behind continued reliance on this technology. Many Americans may feel pressured to use AI amid workplace demands, where employers often promote these tools more enthusiastically than their employees. Additionally, concerns about ethical implications and the technology’s limitations persist.
The rising distrust presents a challenge for the AI industry, which currently thrives on investment and hype but has yet to demonstrate sustained profitability. If negative sentiment deepens over time, consumer demand could wane, potentially undermining the sector’s long-term viability.