Two-thirds of Americans say AI is advancing too quickly, Pew finds

According to a Pew Research poll published June 17, 2026, 63% of Americans believe AI is advancing too quickly. The sentiment reflects concerns about the technology’s rapid development despite increasing adoption.

The poll reports that 49% of Americans use chatbots at least occasionally, a significant increase from 33% in 2024. Among specific tools, 44% of respondents say they have used ChatGPT, which represents a doubling of usage since 2023.

Public opinion on AI’s societal impact remains largely negative, with only 16% of Americans saying AI will have a positive effect. Younger adults express both higher usage rates and greater skepticism: 66% of Americans aged 18–29 report using chatbots, but 48% of that group believe AI will have a negative impact, and just 14% see a positive outcome.

Usage patterns vary by age group. While younger respondents are more likely to have tried AI tools, those aged 30–49 report the highest daily usage, with 34% saying they use chatbots once a day or more. This trend may be linked to workplace adoption, as roughly four in ten Americans report using AI for work tasks.

Despite some perceived benefits—such as 30% of Americans saying AI makes them more productive and 28% believing it helps them be better informed—skepticism persists. In Pew’s 2024 study, 66% of U.S. adults expressed concern about AI spreading inaccurate information, underscoring ongoing doubts about the reliability of AI-generated content.