Only 16 percent of Americans expect AI to have a positive impact

TechCrunch reports, based on new Pew Research data, that only 16 percent of U.S. adults expect AI to have a positive impact on society over the next 20 years. By contrast, 40 percent expect a negative impact. That is an important signal because AI use is still rising quickly at the same time.

The finding shows that adoption and trust are not the same thing. Many Americans now use AI chatbots for work, research or everyday questions, but that does not mean they feel optimistic about where the technology is heading. Pew says 44 percent of U.S. adults have used ChatGPT, more than twice the share in 2023. Gemini follows at 24 percent, Copilot at 17 percent and Meta AI at 14 percent.

The distrust is not only about the technology itself, but also about the institutions expected to guide it. TechCrunch reports that 67 percent of Americans have little confidence that the U.S. government will meaningfully regulate AI. Another 59 percent do not trust companies to develop AI safely. That turns the AI debate from a product question into a trust question.

Younger Americans are especially skeptical. Among adults under 30, only 14 percent believe AI will have a positive impact on society. That challenges the simple assumption that younger users are automatically more enthusiastic about new technology. They may use AI, but they do not necessarily trust the social outcome.

For AI companies, this is a warning. More users, more investment and more products are not enough if people feel that AI is moving too fast, is not being regulated well and is mainly being pushed by companies. The next phase of AI adoption will depend not only on better models, but on clearer boundaries, visible safety and products that give people real control.