AI Goes Mainstream as 49% of U.S. Adults Use Chatbots Like ChatGPT and Gemini

New Pew Research Center findings show that AI chatbot adoption continues to grow rapidly in the United States, with nearly half of American adults now using tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and Meta AI.

According to the survey, 49% of U.S. adults use AI chatbots, up from 33% a year ago. The increase highlights how quickly generative AI has moved into everyday life, with people relying on these tools for research, work, creative projects, and other daily tasks.

AI becomes a mainstream tool

Research-related tasks remain the most common use case for AI. The study found that 42% of American adults use AI tools to research information, while 38% use them for work-related activities.

Other popular uses include entertainment, image and video editing, and seeking medical information.

The findings come as AI companies continue to expand their products across consumer and workplace environments. Earlier this year, Microsoft AI Chief Mustafa Suleyman reiterated that AI systems are intended to assist workers and improve productivity rather than replace them outright.

ChatGPT remains the market leader

Among major AI platforms, ChatGPT remains the most widely used chatbot in the United States.

Survey respondents reported that ChatGPT was the most widely used AI chatbot at 44%, followed by Gemini at 24%, Copilot at 17%, and Meta AI at 14%.

Skepticism remains widespread

Despite rising usage, many Americans remain cautious about AI’s long-term impact.

The survey found that 40% of adults believe AI will do more harm than good for society over the next two decades. Meanwhile, 31% expect AI to have a negative effect on their own lives.

Another 31% said they believe AI will bring a mix of positive and negative outcomes.

These concerns reflect an ongoing gap between AI adoption and public confidence in the technology’s broader consequences.

Privacy and regulation concerns dominate

Privacy remains one of the biggest concerns surrounding AI.

According to the survey, 71% of Americans believe AI will make their personal information less secure. Only 3% think AI will improve data security.

Confidence in oversight also remains low. About 67% of respondents said they have little or no confidence in the U.S. government’s ability to regulate AI effectively.

The survey also found that six in ten adults are not confident that companies developing AI will use the technology responsibly.

The findings arrive amid growing debate over AI governance, safety, and development speed. Several industry leaders and researchers have called for stronger oversight, while some organizations have argued that advanced AI development may require international coordination and stricter safeguards.

In other AI news, the Fable 5 and Mythos AI models were recently taken offline following a warning from Amazon.