Americans are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence tools for tasks such as research, writing, and data analysis, but most remain skeptical about the technology and its broader impact, according to a new survey.
A poll conducted by Quinnipiac University found that 76% of respondents trust AI only rarely or sometimes, while just 21% said they trust AI-generated information most or almost all of the time.
Adoption Increases Despite Skepticism
The survey of nearly 1,400 U.S. adults shows growing usage of AI tools, with only 27% saying they have never used AI, down from 33% in April 2025.
More than half of respondents, 51%, reported using AI for research, while others said they rely on it for writing, work-related tasks, and data analysis.
Chetan Jaiswal noted that the findings highlight a gap between usage and trust, with adoption rising even as confidence in the technology remains limited.
Concerns About Impact And Future Outlook
The poll indicates that sentiment toward AI is largely negative. Only 6% of respondents said they are “very excited” about AI, while 62% said they are either not so excited or not at all excited.
Concern levels are higher, with 80% saying they are either very or somewhat concerned about AI. Millennials and baby boomers reported the highest levels of concern, followed closely by Gen Z.
More than half of respondents, 55%, said AI would do more harm than good in their daily lives, while about one-third said it would have a positive impact.
Job Market Fears And Shifting Expectations
A majority of respondents, 70%, said they believe AI will reduce job opportunities, compared to just 7% who expect it to create more jobs. This marks an increase from last year’s survey, where 56% expected job losses and 13% anticipated job growth.
Gen Z respondents were the most pessimistic, with 81% expecting fewer job opportunities.
Among employed Americans, 30% said they are concerned AI could make their own jobs obsolete, up from 21% in the previous year.
Industry commentary has echoed these concerns, with Dario Amodei warning about potential job displacement linked to AI development.
Views On Infrastructure And Regulation
Public opposition extends to AI infrastructure, with 65% of respondents saying they would not want AI data centers built in their communities, citing concerns about electricity consumption and water use.
At the same time, two-thirds of respondents said companies are not doing enough to be transparent about their use of AI, and a similar share said the government is not doing enough to regulate the technology.
Tamilla Triantoro said the findings suggest that familiarity with AI does not necessarily lead to optimism, particularly among younger users who are both frequent users and among the most concerned about job prospects.
Featured image credits: Getty Images
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