AI: Two-thirds of Americans say it is advancing too quickly

Pew Research poll finds 49 percent of Americans report using chatbots and 63 percent say AI is advancing too quickly. ChatGPT’s usage has doubled since 2023, with 44 percent of respondents saying they’ve used it, while only 16 percent expect AI to have a positive impact on society.

How many Americans use chatbots and what do they think?

Pew’s latest poll shows 49 percent of Americans report using chatbots at least occasionally, and 63 percent think AI is advancing too quickly. Use rose sharply from 33 percent in 2024 to 49 percent in this survey, and respondents remain skeptical: just 16 percent said AI will have a positive impact on society.

The poll also measured perceived benefits: 30 percent of Americans said AI makes them more productive, and 28 percent said it helps them be more informed. The survey noted lingering accuracy concerns, referencing Pew’s 2024 finding that 66 percent of US adults were concerned about AI spreading inaccurate information.

Who is using AI the most and how do different age groups view it?

Young adults report the highest overall chatbot use but the 30 to 49 age group reports the heaviest daily use. Sixty-six percent of Americans aged 18 to 29 said they have used chatbots at all, yet within that cohort 48 percent believe AI will have a negative impact and just 14 percent believe it will have a positive impact. Americans aged 30 to 49 were the most frequent daily users, with 34 percent saying they turn to chatbots once a day or more.

The pattern in the poll was not uniform: progressively older generations reported lower chatbot use but also a less negative opinion of AI. The survey attributed part of daily-use figures to work: roughly four in ten Americans reported using AI for work tasks, which likely pushes up daily engagement among the 30 to 49 bracket.

What else does the poll reveal about specific tools and trends?

Pew singled out ChatGPT as an example of shifting adoption: reported ChatGPT use doubled since 2023, with 44 percent of respondents saying they’ve used it. The survey connects rising usage with mixed outcomes: while some users find AI boosts productivity or information access, overall sentiment remains cautious, with only 16 percent expecting a net positive societal effect.

The poll juxtaposes growing everyday reliance with persistent worry about misinformation, echoing Pew’s 2024 result that 66 percent of US adults were concerned about AI spreading inaccurate information. That earlier figure sits alongside current productivity and work-use figures, painting a picture of widespread adoption paired with unresolved trust issues.

Why it matters

Widespread use coupled with a mostly negative outlook reshapes the debate over regulation, workplace policy, and public education on AI. If nearly half of Americans use chatbots and roughly four in ten use AI at work, employers, policymakers, and platform designers will face pressure to address accuracy, transparency, and the social consequences of deployment. Younger adults’ high adoption but pessimistic stance suggests public familiarity will not automatically translate into public trust.

What to watch

Watch whether ChatGPT’s recent doubling in reported usage continues and whether the share of Americans who say AI will have a positive impact rises above 16 percent. Also track whether concerns about AI spreading inaccurate information, cited at 66 percent in Pew’s 2024 study, decline as platforms introduce accuracy and disclosure measures.