Americans may be using artificial intelligence more than ever, but a new study suggests many are still waiting to be convinced that AI is actually worth all the hype.
A new survey from Howdy found that 96% of Americans have tried AI, while 86% say they currently use it. Yet more than half, 51%, still believe the technology is overhyped. The U.S.–based staffing company surveyed 1,008 Americans nationwide in June 2026. Respondents were between 18 and 65 years old, with an average age of 39, and the sample included 49% women, 49% men, and 2% who identified as nonbinary or did not disclose their gender.
The research revealed what may be the clearest picture yet of how many Americans really feel about AI. They are using it and see the benefits, but they are also increasingly concerned about what comes next.
Americans Like AI, But They Just Do Not Fully Trust It
Over the past few years, there has been a major shift with AI already being used for everything from search and product research to planning, schoolwork, health advice, and even companionship. But the public is hardly giving the technology a blank check.
The Howdy study found that 98% of current AI users consider the technology useful. Another 86% said AI improves their lives, while 75% said it makes them more productive. However, a majority of Americans surveyed believe AI makes people lazier and weakens critical thinking.
When asked where they would rather see money invested, 68% chose people over AI. And despite the explosion of paid AI services, only 26% of current users said they pay for AI. More than half, 54%, said they would stop using AI if they had to pay for it.
The research shows that Americans may want AI to make their lives easier, but they are not necessarily interested in paying for everything it can do.
Trust Depends on the Type of AI
The study also found that Americans do not trust every kind of AI equally, and their comfort level changes depending on where the technology shows up.
Consumer-facing tools ranked highest, with search and research tools as the most trusted at 72%. They were followed by productivity assistants at 68% and recommendation engines at 61%. However, trust fell as the stakes got higher:
- 54% said they trust chatbots
- 39% trust AI in health care
- 31% trust AI used in hiring
- 24% trust AI used in law enforcement
That skepticism becomes even clearer when AI is compared with institutions Americans already distrust. Only 29% of respondents said they trust journalists, while just 18% said they trust the government. In other words, AI is not just competing with other technologies for public confidence. It is competing with some of the least trusted institutions in American life.
But trust in AI also widely varies by platform. The study found that OpenAI’s ChatGPT led the way as the most trusted platform at 42%. Gemini/Google AI Mode came in a distant second at 21%, and Claude was 12%. On the other side, 32% of respondents said Grok was the least trusted AI, while 26% said “all of them” and 11% said ChatGPT.
Even with ChatGPT leading the way, 51% of those surveyed said that OpenAI is not living up to its mission statement “to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity.” The concern has only grown as the gap between tech industry promises and everyday hardship has pushed frustration to a breaking point. Public backlash against AI executives has escalated from online criticism to direct action, highlighted by multiple incidents and protests outside OpenAI founder Sam Altman’s San Francisco home.
AI Is Already Showing Up in Your Streaming Apps
You do not have to be an AI power user to encounter the technology, as AI is already being built into the services used by millions of cord cutters. For example, YouTube has been adding more AI-powered features, including conversational tools. Netflix is also increasingly exploring how AI can be used in the production process after closing a $587 million acquisition of Ben Affleck’s InterPositive.
That shows AI is no longer simply a chatbot that people open when they need help writing an email. It is becoming part of how people search for content, discover what to watch, and potentially how movies and television shows are made. It also creates new questions about how much consumers know about the technology working behind the scenes.
The Concerns Go Beyond Chatbots
The Howdy study comes as other research highlights growing concerns about the real-world impact of artificial intelligence.
Across the country, AI’s growing energy demands are raising concerns about higher electricity costs in communities near data centers. Even as parents increasingly use AI at home, they are also worrying about how children interact with chatbots. This has gotten the government involved after the FTC launched an inquiry into the safety of AI chatbots for children and teens late last year.
Then there is the significant rise of scams and fears of privacy invasion. Experts have warned that AI-powered voice scams could cost Americans nearly $40 billion a year, as criminals use increasingly convincing fake voices and other tools to target victims. Research has also found overwhelming support for laws requiring companies to clearly explain what data AI assistants, smart TVs, and streaming devices collect.
As more Americans become relatively comfortable with AI inside search engines, streaming services, and productivity apps they already use every day, they are far less comfortable when the same technology is embedded in systems that collect more personal data or influence major life decisions.
Americans May Be Entering an AI Reality Check
Howdy’s survey does not show a country that has rejected AI. Instead, Americans have adopted it quickly, use it often, and appreciate the convenience.
They’re happy to use AI to find information, plan a trip, compare products, or get help with a task. But they also think it is overhyped and don’t want it replacing people, collecting more personal data, raising their power bills, or making decisions without clear oversight.
The technology may be spreading quickly, yet many people are growing more skeptical as AI becomes more deeply embedded in everyday life.
