Americans Grow Wary of AI as Concerns Outpace Excitement, Teens Embrace Chatbots for School

Mar 12, 2026
Pew Research Center
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Summary

American adults are growing increasingly wary of AI, with half expressing more concern than excitement — a sharp rise since 2021 — even as two-thirds of U.S. teens embrace AI chatbots for schoolwork, with many acknowledging chatbot-fueled cheating is widespread.

Key Points

  • Half of U.S. adults say AI makes them more concerned than excited, a figure that has risen sharply since 2021, while only 10% say they are more excited than concerned.
  • Two-thirds of U.S. teens now use AI chatbots, primarily for searching information and schoolwork help, and about six-in-ten teens say chatbot-based cheating is at least somewhat common at their school.
  • AI experts are far more optimistic about AI's societal impact than the general public, with 56% of experts viewing it positively compared to just 17% of Americans, though both groups want more control over how AI is used in their lives.

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