Majority of Americans Concerned About Rapid AI Progress

A recent Pew Research poll reveals that 49 percent of Americans use chatbots at least occasionally, yet 63 percent feel the technology is progressing too rapidly. The adoption of AI chatbots has surged since 2024, when only 33 percent reported using them. Notably, ChatGPT’s usage has doubled since 2023, with 44 percent of respondents indicating they’ve tried it. However, sentiment remains largely negative, as only 16 percent believe AI will positively influence society.

Younger generations are leading in chatbot usage but tend to hold more pessimistic views. Among Americans aged 18 to 29, 66 percent report using chatbots, yet 48 percent of this group think AI will have a negative impact, while just 14 percent see it positively. Older generations use chatbots less frequently but generally have a more favorable outlook.

While the youngest users are the most likely to have engaged with AI, those aged 30 to 49 are the most frequent users, with 34 percent accessing chatbots daily or more. This trend may be influenced by the fact that around 40 percent of Americans use AI for work-related tasks. Additionally, 30 percent believe AI enhances their productivity, and 28 percent feel it keeps them better informed. However, concerns about the reliability of AI-generated information persist, as 66 percent of US adults expressed worries about AI disseminating inaccurate data.