Observed Signal · Jun 17, 2026 · Research Study · Source: techcrunch · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Negative
Pew: Only 16% of Americans See AI Positively
A new Pew Research survey, reported by TechCrunch, finds most Americans are neutral-to-negative about AI’s long-term impact despite growing day-to-day use. Only 16% of respondents say AI will have a positive effect on U.S. society over the next 20 years, while about 40% expect a negative impact. Large shares express skepticism about oversight and corporate safety: 67% don’t believe the U.S. government will meaningfully regulate AI, and 59% don’t trust companies to develop it safely. Usage is rising — Pew reports 44% of U.S. adults say they use OpenAI’s ChatGPT (a figure that has more than doubled since 2023) — yet many Americans, especially older cohorts, still report no chatbot use. Younger adults (under 30) are among the most pessimistic about AI’s societal effects.
The survey reveals low public optimism and high skepticism about regulation and corporate safety alongside rising chatbot adoption (notably ChatGPT). These attitudes affect trust, adoption, and potential regulatory pressure relevant to advertisers, platforms and AI-enabled MarTech.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Only 16% of Americans say AI's impact on society over the next 20 years will be positive.
- About 40% of Americans say AI's impact over the next 20 years will be negative.
- 67% of respondents do not believe the U.S. government will meaningfully regulate AI.
- 59% of respondents do not trust companies to develop AI safely.
- 44% of U.S. adults say they use OpenAI's ChatGPT; Pew says that figure has more than doubled since 2023.
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More AI Users, Less Trust: The AI Paradox
A t3n report summarizes a large Pew Research Center survey showing that 49% of U.S. adults now regularly use AI tools—up from 33% in 2024—with ChatGPT (OpenAI) the market leader (44%), followed by Google’s Gemini and Microsoft’s Copilot. Despite rising usage, public confidence is low: only 16% expect AI to have a positive societal impact in the next two decades while 40% foresee negative effects; about one third fear personal harm. Young adults (18–29) are the heaviest users (66%) yet also the most pessimistic (48%). Trust in institutions is weak: 67% have little or no trust in the U.S. government’s ability to regulate AI, 61% distrust developers to design technology responsibly, and 71% believe AI makes personal data less secure. The article warns the combination of coerced workplace adoption and pervasive privacy concerns poses an economic risk for AI product business models.
Most Americans Use AI but Call It Overhyped
A June 2026 nationwide survey by staffing company Howdy of 1,008 Americans finds broad exposure to AI—96% have tried it and 86% currently use it—yet 51% say AI is overhyped. Users report AI is useful (98%), life-improving (86%), and productivity-enhancing (75%), but many worry it weakens critical thinking and prefer investing in people over AI (68%). Only 26% of users pay for AI and 54% would stop using it if charged. Trust varies by use case (search 72%, productivity assistants 68%, chatbots 54%, health care 39%, hiring 31%, law enforcement 24%) and by platform (OpenAI/ChatGPT most trusted at 42%). The report also highlights broader concerns about energy demands, scams, data collection, and regulatory attention such as an FTC inquiry into chatbot safety for minors.
Quinnipiac Poll: AI Use Up, Public Trust Down
A Quinnipiac University poll of nearly 1,400 Americans finds rising use of artificial intelligence alongside deepening distrust. Seventy-six percent of respondents said they trust AI rarely or only sometimes, while just 21% said they trust it most or almost all of the time. AI adoption increased (only 27% now say they’ve never used AI, down from 33% in April 2025), but excitement is low (6% very excited) and concern is high (80% very or somewhat concerned). Majorities expect negative labor impacts and oppose local AI data centers. Two-thirds of respondents said businesses and government are not doing enough on transparency and regulation. The poll reflects growing public unease about AI’s societal effects despite increased everyday use.
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