WASHINGTON — Four in 10 Americans believe artificial intelligence will have a negative impact on society over the next two decades, while far fewer expect positive effects, according to a new survey released by the Pew Research Center, highlighting continued public skepticism even as AI use becomes more widespread across the United States.
The survey, published on June 17, found that 40% of U.S. adults expect AI to have a negative effect on society during the next 20 years, compared with 16% who said its impact would be positive. About three in 10 respondents said AI would have both positive and negative effects, while others were uncertain.
Pew researchers surveyed U.S. adults in February and found that concerns about AI extend beyond society as a whole. About 31% of respondents said they expect AI to affect them personally in a negative way, while 23% anticipated a positive impact.
The findings come as AI technologies, including chatbots and generative AI tools, are becoming increasingly common in workplaces, schools, and daily life. Pew reported that nearly half of U.S. adults now use AI chatbots at least occasionally, a substantial increase from recent years. ChatGPT remained the most widely used chatbot among respondents, according to the survey.
Despite broader adoption, skepticism remains widespread. Roughly two-thirds of Americans said AI is advancing too quickly, while only a small share believed development is moving too slowly. Majorities also expressed concern that increased use of AI could make personal information less secure.
“Americans predict AI’s impact on society, them will be more negative than positive,” Pew said in summarizing the survey’s findings.
The survey found negative sentiment across age groups, including among younger adults who are among the most frequent users of AI tools. Adults under 30 were more likely than older respondents to say AI would have a negative impact on society, according to Pew.
The results align with other recent polling that has shown concerns about AI’s effects on employment, privacy, misinformation, and the pace of technological change. A Reuters/Ipsos poll published earlier this month found that more than half of Americans worried AI could lead to job losses affecting themselves or members of their households.
Pew’s survey was conducted from Feb. 17 to Feb. 23 and examined Americans’ use of AI technologies, attitudes toward their impact, and perceptions of how rapidly the technology is evolving. The organization said public use of AI continues to grow, but views of its long-term effects remain largely cautious as of June 2026.
