Pew: Just 16% of Americans Expect AI to Benefit Society Even as Half Now Use Chatbots

Pew Research Center·medium signal

Pew Research Center's 'Americans and AI 2026' report (released June 17) finds only 16% of US adults believe AI will have a positive societal impact over 20 years, with majorities saying AI is advancing too fast and threatens their personal data. Yet adoption keeps climbing: about half of adults now use AI chatbots and a quarter use them daily, and ChatGPT reaches 44% of US adults — more than double its 2023 share. The widening gap between heavy usage and deep skepticism is a key signal for anyone shipping consumer AI products.