More and more, people in the U.S. are relying on artificial intelligence for tasks such as inquiry, composition, academic or professional assignments, and data examination — yet, they aren’t entirely pleased with this development.
Despite a growing uptake and utilization of AI, the populace in the United States persistently harbors skepticism towards this novel technology, as revealed by a Quinnipiac University survey released on Monday. Among the approximately 1,400 U.S. citizens polled, over three-quarters expressed distrust in AI — 76% reported seldom or only occasionally trusting it, a stark contrast to the mere 21% who placed confidence in it most or nearly all of the time.
This trend emerges even as a growing segment of the American population incorporates AI into their everyday routines; just 27% indicated they had never engaged with AI applications, a decrease from 33% recorded in April 2025.
“The disparity between employing and confiding in AI is remarkable,” noted Chetan Jaiswal, a computer science professor at Quinnipiac. “Fifty-one percent report utilizing AI for investigations, with numerous others employing it for composition, professional tasks, and data interpretation. Nevertheless, merely 21 percent place significant or near-absolute reliance on AI-produced information. Americans are evidently embracing AI, but their adoption is marked by profound reservations rather than robust confidence.”
A contributing factor to this skepticism could stem from an apprehension regarding the prospects AI might introduce. The survey discovered a mere 6% felt “highly enthusiastic” about AI, whereas 62% were either moderately or entirely unenthusiastic. These figures are essentially inverted when considering apprehension: 80% expressed either significant or moderate worry about AI, with Millennials and Baby Boomers leading as the most apprehensive demographics, closely followed by Gen Z.
A substantial majority (55%) believe AI will inflict greater detriment than benefit in their routine existence, while only one-third perceive AI as yielding more advantage than disadvantage, as per the survey. A higher proportion of individuals hold unfavorable opinions concerning AI compared to the previous year’s study, researchers indicated — an outcome perhaps unsurprising following a year characterized by major tech industry job cuts, fatal instances linked to AI-induced psychosis, and data facilities taxing energy networks.
Broadly, citizens in the U.S. resist the construction of AI data facilities within their locales, with 65% expressing a preference against such developments, principally attributing their stance to elevated electricity expenditures and water consumption.
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A preponderant portion (70%) anticipates that progress in AI will diminish employment prospects, while merely 7% believe AI will generate additional job openings. This represents a change from last year, when 56% of Americans projected AI advancements would result in a reduction of jobs and 13% expected an increase. Individuals belonging to Gen Z, born from 1997 to 2008, exhibit the highest level of gloom, with 81% predicting a decline in available positions.
Furthermore, their concerns are not unfounded. Listings for entry-level positions in the U.S. have plunged by 35% since 2023, and prominent AI figures such as Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei have cautioned that this technology will eliminate numerous roles.
“Youthful Americans possess the greatest acquaintance with AI instruments, yet they also display the least sanguine outlook regarding the job market,” stated Tamilla Triantoro, a professor of business analytics and information systems at Quinnipiac. “Proficiency in AI and confidence in its economic impact are diverging.”
Intriguingly, despite the widespread apprehension among Americans concerning AI’s broader influence on the employment sector, the majority do not believe it poses a direct threat to their individual livelihoods. Among working Americans, 30% express worry that AI will render their occupations superfluous. Nevertheless, this figure has risen from 21% in the prior year.
“Citizens of the U.S. are more troubled by AI’s potential repercussions on the overall job market than by its specific impact on their personal careers,” Triantoro remarked. “Individuals appear more inclined to forecast a more challenging market than to envision themselves as victims of that upheaval — a trend warranting close observation as the technology becomes more entrenched in professional environments.”
A significant factor contributing to American distrust in AI may be their conviction that the corporations developing this technology are not entirely candid. Two-thirds of those surveyed indicated that businesses are not adequately forthcoming regarding their AI deployment. An identical proportion also asserted that the government is insufficient in its efforts to oversee AI. This feeling arises as states strive to retain jurisdiction over AI policies, even while federal authorities — including within Trump’s most recent, largely minimal AI guidelines — and industry heads champion restricting state-specific oversight.
“Americans are not entirely dismissing AI, but they are issuing a caution,” Triantoro stated. “An excess of ambiguity, insufficient confidence, inadequate oversight, and pervasive apprehension concerning employment.”
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