AI Adoption Is Rising, but Public Trust Is the Real Challenge

Artificial intelligence has entered a new stage of adoption. Nearly half of U.S. adults now use AI chatbots, up from one-third in 2024, with roughly one in four using them daily. The most common activities are searching for information and completing work-related tasks.

AI is also appearing in search engines and connected devices, making it a more familiar part of everyday technology use. Awareness has also become nearly universal, with 96% of Americans saying they have heard at least a little about AI. The findings show AI is becoming a standard feature of digital experiences across work and personal life.

Public confidence tells a different story.

Americans remain concerned about AI’s long-term impact. Questions around data privacy and responsible AI management continue to shape public opinion. The gap between AI use and public confidence continues to grow, placing more attention on how organizations govern and secure AI systems.

Why It Matters: AI is now part of everyday technology use. Organizations are also facing higher expectations around transparency and accountability as AI becomes more common in daily work. The survey suggests that success with AI will depend on earning confidence through responsible deployment as much as introducing new capabilities.

• Adoption Grows: 49% of U.S. adults now use AI chatbots, up from 33% in 2024, and one in four use them every day. ChatGPT remains the most widely used platform. Several competing AI platforms also continue to gain users. Six in ten Americans also report reading AI-generated search summaries, showing that AI has become part of routine online experiences.

• Workplace Use: Searching for information is the leading reason people use chatbots, while 38% of employed adults use them for work. AI is also becoming more common across connected devices in homes and workplaces. Everyday use now extends across multiple technologies, creating new expectations around oversight and security. As AI becomes part of existing technology environments, oversight extends beyond standalone chatbot policies.

• Trust Gap: More Americans expect AI to have a negative effect on society than a positive one, and nearly two-thirds believe AI is advancing too quickly. The concern is not limited to infrequent users. Younger adults, who report the highest chatbot adoption, also express reservations about AI’s future impact. The report also found that more Americans expect AI to have a negative effect on their own lives than a positive one, although many believe the technology will bring a mix of benefits and drawbacks over time.

• Privacy Risks: 70% of Americans believe greater AI use will make their personal information less secure. Privacy concerns remain one of the leading reasons many people avoid chatbots. Concerns about accuracy also contribute to that hesitation. The findings reinforce that confidence in AI depends on how information is collected, protected, and used. For organizations deploying AI, those concerns extend beyond compliance to how customer and employee data is handled, stored, and communicated throughout the AI lifecycle.

• Governance: Most Americans report little confidence that the U.S. government can regulate AI effectively or that companies are developing and using AI responsibly. Organizations that clearly communicate how AI is managed are more likely to build confidence with the people who rely on those systems. The findings suggest public expectations are changing alongside AI adoption, placing greater scrutiny on how organizations introduce new AI capabilities and demonstrate responsible oversight over time.

Go Deeper -> Americans and AI 2026: Chatbots, Smart Devices and Views on Impact