Despite its growing influence in our daily lives and on the stock market, a new Pew Research study reveals that only 16 percent of Americans believe artificial intelligence (AI) will have a positive impact on society over the next two decades. The vast majority see things differently.

The findings highlight a stark divide between AI's omnipresence in modern life and public sentiment towards it. While around 40% think AI will harm society, nearly two-thirds doubt government regulation and company safety initiatives for AI will be meaningful. Younger Americans are particularly pessimistic, with only 14 percent expecting positive outcomes.

Despite this skepticism, many Americans do use AI regularly—25% report daily interaction with chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot. However, men tend to be more enthusiastic users than women.

The research also delves into how AI is reshaping information consumption habits. Over half of respondents admit they read AI-generated summaries online frequently. Usage for fitness and dieting advice is less common, though still on the rise. Interestingly, nearly 75% of Americans aged 65 or older report never using AI chatbots.