Polls show AI use is rising even as many Americans feel uneasy

In short: AI is becoming part of everyday life, but many people are more worried than excited, and the debate is shifting toward rules and control.

What's going on

A new wave of discussion is highlighting a basic tension. AI is no longer only a tool that answers questions. It is starting to shape decisions at work, in school, in health care, in relationships, and in public life, which forces people to ask what they value and who should decide.

Surveys suggest the public is uneasy. In a Pew survey, about half of U.S. adults said AI’s growing use in daily life makes them more concerned than excited. About half also expect AI to harm creativity and meaningful relationships.

At the same time, use keeps spreading. Roughly two-thirds of U.S. teens said they have used a chatbot (a text program you can talk to like a customer service rep). Another Pew finding says 31% of adults interact with AI several times a day or more.

What to watch

The argument is moving from everyday effects to control and safety. The 2026 International AI Safety Report says today’s systems show early signs of abilities that could matter for safety, but not at levels that suggest people are about to lose control, and it says the timing and likelihood of that risk is unusually unclear. Many experts also point to nearer problems like scams, misinformation, and non-consensual deepfakes (fake images or videos that look real, like a convincing forged photo).

Proposals include safety testing before release, independent checks, stronger protections for whistleblowers, and the ability to suspend systems judged dangerous. Public opinion may push this forward, since many Americans say they have little control over how AI is used in their lives, and more than half say they want more control.

Source: NYTimes