A new Pew Research Center study reveals a striking disconnect between growing AI adoption in the United States and widespread public pessimism about its long-term consequences. Only 16% of Americans believe AI will have a positive impact on society over the next 20 years, while around 40% expect a negative outcome. Skepticism toward oversight is equally pronounced, with 67% doubting the government will meaningfully regulate AI and 59% distrusting companies to develop it safely.
Young people under 30 are the most pessimistic cohort, with just 14% expecting a positive societal impact. Nearly two-thirds of all Americans feel AI development is moving too fast.
Despite this, daily AI use is rising. Around a quarter of Americans use AI chatbots daily, primarily for research and work. ChatGPT dominates the landscape, now used by 44% of U.S. adults, more than double its 2023 figure. Gemini ranks second at 24%, followed by Copilot at 17%, Meta AI at 14%, Grok at 8%, Claude at 6%, and Character.ai at 3%.
A gender divide persists, with men more likely to use AI daily and more enthusiastic about it overall, while women remain more sceptical. Six in ten respondents said they regularly encounter AI-generated internet summaries, reflecting how deeply the technology has already penetrated everyday information consumption. Around half of Americans still report no AI use at all, a group skewed heavily toward those aged 65 and older.
