Pew poll finds most Americans think AI is moving too fast

In short: More Americans are using AI chatbots, but most still feel AI is developing faster than they are comfortable with.

What's going on

A new poll from Pew Research Center finds that 49 percent of Americans say they use chatbots at least occasionally. Chatbots are tools like ChatGPT that you can type questions into, like texting with a helpful assistant.

At the same time, 63 percent of Americans say AI is advancing too quickly. That suggests many people are trying these tools while also feeling uneasy about how fast they are showing up in daily life.

Use has grown quickly in a short time. Pew found that 33 percent of Americans said they used chatbots in 2024, compared with 49 percent now. ChatGPT use has also increased, with 44 percent of respondents saying they have used it, roughly double compared with 2023.

Even with higher usage, views are still mostly negative. Only 16 percent of Americans in the poll said AI will have a positive impact on society.

What to watch

The poll points to a gap between trying AI and trusting it. Watch for more rules from schools, employers, and governments about when chatbots can be used and how their answers should be checked, especially as more people rely on them for everyday tasks.

Source: The Verge AI