A new Pew Research Center survey shows that AI chatbots have moved firmly into the American mainstream, even as many adults remain wary of the technology. The study found that 49% of U.S. adults say they have used a chatbot such as ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot, up from about one-third in 2024.
The report also suggests that daily use is becoming common. Roughly one-quarter of adults say they use chatbots every day, including 12% who use them several times a day and 4% who say they use them almost constantly.
Pew found that people are most likely to turn to chatbots for practical tasks. About 42% of adults who use these tools say they do so to search for information. Among employed adults, 38% say they use chatbots for work-related tasks.
Other common uses are more limited. About a quarter of adults who use chatbots say they rely on them for entertainment, and similar shares use them to create or edit images or video. Smaller portions say they use the tools for medical advice or diet and fitness information, while 13% say they use chatbots to get news.
The survey also found that 10% of adults who use chatbots turn to them for emotional support or advice, and 4% say they use them for companionship.
Although several chatbot products are now available, ChatGPT remains the best-known and most widely used. Pew said 44% of U.S. adults report having used ChatGPT, up from 34% a year earlier and more than double the share recorded when the survey first asked about the product in 2023.
Other services trail far behind. The report says 24% of adults have used Gemini and 17% have used Copilot. Smaller shares reported using Meta AI, Grok, Claude or Character.ai.
The survey did not focus only on chatbots. Pew found that AI is also making its way into homes through connected devices. About one-third of Americans say they have a smart speaker, and smaller shares report owning a doorbell or thermostat with AI features.
Despite rising use, Pew said public attitudes toward AI remain largely negative. More adults expect AI to have a harmful rather than helpful effect on both society and their own lives. Large majorities also say the technology is moving too quickly and could put personal data at risk.
The survey notes that even younger adults, who are generally more likely to use AI tools, are still not especially positive about the technology’s direction.
Pew surveyed 5,119 U.S. adults from Feb. 17 to Feb. 23, 2026, using its American Trends Panel. The findings reflect a growing gap between how quickly AI is being adopted in daily life and how cautiously many Americans view its broader impact.