A new poll highlights a surprising truth: Even with all the buzz, most Americans haven’t really brought AI into their workday.
According to an AP-NORC survey of 1,437 adults conducted mid-July, only 37 percent of Americans say they’ve used artificial intelligence tools for work tasks. That’s right — just over one-third.
So if you’ve ever felt like the only one not writing emails with AI, you’re definitely not alone.
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AI is here… mostly for search
The most common way people use AI? Searching for information. Sixty percent of U.S. adults say they’ve done that, though the real number might be even higher. Some tools layer AI on top of regular search results without telling you, so you might be using AI without realizing it.
Even so, AI’s promise of working smarter just hasn’t hit home for many people — especially older generations.
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A clear generational divide
Younger users are way ahead of the curve. Here’s how it breaks down:
- 74% of adults under 30 use AI to search for info
- 62% have used it to brainstorm ideas
- 25% have even tried AI companionship
Compare that to people 60 and older, and it’s a stark contrast — only 20 percent of seniors say they’ve used AI to brainstorm.
Turns out, age plays a big role in how people adopt AI. Younger folks are more comfortable experimenting, whether it’s for work, creativity, or even just chatting with a digital assistant.
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Meet the users: cautious, curious, and polite
The Associated Press talked to a few users who captured this mix of curiosity and caution.
Courtney Thayer, 34, is an audiologist in Des Moines. She uses ChatGPT to plan weekly meals and makes sure to say “please” and “thank you” with every prompt. Why? She’s watched enough sci-fi to be polite — just in case.
“I mean, I am nice to it,” she told the AP. “Just because I’ve watched movies, right?”
Meanwhile, Sanaa Wilson, 28, a data scientist near Los Angeles, relies on AI to debug code. She used to use ChatGPT for writing emails, too — until two specific concerns made her stop:
- She worried about AI’s energy use.
- She didn’t want her writing skills to slip.
Wilson also noted that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic — especially the isolation — may have nudged some in her generation toward AI companionship, even if it’s not her thing.
Only 16 percent of all adults have tried AI for social purposes, but the number climbs to 25 percent for folks under 30.
Writing, shopping, and entertainment — still limited
Besides search and brainstorming, about one-third of respondents said they’ve used AI for:
- Email writing
- Creating or editing images
- Entertainment
- Shopping
While these numbers aren’t tiny, they still don’t show a full embrace of AI in daily routines or workplaces.
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People are still figuring AI out
The poll results suggest Americans are approaching AI with a mix of interest and hesitation. They’re using it where it feels helpful — like finding ideas or solving specific problems — but not rushing headfirst into a future run by bots.
And honestly? That makes sense.
These tools are still new, still evolving, and a lot of people are rightfully cautious about what they mean for the future — especially in places like work, mental health, and even human relationships.
But if this poll’s any sign, the younger generation is already showing how AI can fit into real life — not just as a buzzy trend, but as something useful, thoughtful, and (occasionally) polite.
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Keywords: AI at work, generational AI adoption, ChatGPT usage, artificial intelligence poll, AI for brainstorming, AI companionship, American AI habits, AP-NORC poll on AI, young adults using AI
