Americans and AI 2026: Chatbots, Smart Devices and Views on Impact

Clockwise, from top right: An employee at an Amazon Web Services lab in Austin, Texas; a woman uses a smartwatch; a student before commencement at the University of Southern California; a person uses ChatGPT on a smartphone. (Mark Felix/AFP, Stefania Pelfini la Waziya, Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News, Smith Collection/Gado, all via Getty Images)

About this research

This study is Pew Research Center’s latest effort to explore how Americans use and view artificial intelligence (AI). The study also dives into who uses chatbots and has smart home devices with AI features. It also explores what impact people think AI will have on society and on them, personally.

Why did we do this?

The Center conducts research to inform the public, journalists and decision-makers. Tracking the rise of AI in society has been a key priority for us over the years. It’s important to understand how people use AI in their lives and how they feel these tools will impact themselves and society.

Learn more about Pew Research Center.

How did we do this?

We surveyed 5,119 U.S. adults from Feb. 17 to 23, 2026. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP). The survey represents the views of the full U.S. adult population.

Here are the questions used for this report, the topline and the survey methodology.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept – it’s transforming everything from medicine to work to entertainment.

At the same time, Americans are using chatbots more than ever before and some are bringing smart devices into their households, according to a new Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults.

About half of U.S. adults now use AI chatbots, up from a third in 2024