In the U.S., there is a growing reliance on artificial intelligence for tasks like research, writing, school or work projects, and data analysis, but this trend is accompanied by dissatisfaction.
A Quinnipiac University poll released Monday reveals that despite increased AI usage, Americans remain skeptical of the technology. Out of nearly 1,400 respondents, over 75% expressed limited trust in AI, with 76% trusting it rarely or occasionally, and only 21% showing high trust.
Though AI adoption is rising, with only 27% claiming they’ve never used AI tools (down from 33% in April 2025), skepticism persists.
“The discrepancy between AI use and trust is notable,” stated Chetan Jaiswal, a computer science professor at Quinnipiac. “While 51% use AI for research and other applications, only 21% have high trust in AI-generated information. People are adopting AI, but with significant hesitation.”
This distrust may stem from apprehension about AI’s future impact. Only 6% are “very excited” about AI, while 62% express little to no excitement. Conversely, 80% express concern about AI, with millennials, baby boomers, and Gen Z showing high levels of worry.
According to the poll, 55% believe AI will be more harmful than beneficial in daily life, compared to a third who see more benefits. Negative perceptions have grown since last year, following events like tech layoffs, AI-related incidents, and energy-consuming data centers.
65% of Americans oppose AI data centers in their communities, citing electricity consumption and water use as concerns.
Most Americans (70%) think AI will reduce job opportunities, with only 7% believing it will create more jobs. This is a shift from last year when 56% foresaw job losses and 13% expected gains. Gen Z, in particular, with 81% anticipating job declines, is notably pessimistic.
This concern isn’t unwarranted; entry-level job postings in the U.S. have dropped 35% since 2023, and AI industry leaders warn of significant job displacement.
“Younger Americans are familiar with AI tools but less optimistic about job prospects,” noted Tamilla Triantoro, a business analytics and information systems professor at Quinnipiac. “AI knowledge is growing, but optimism is shrinking.”
While many Americans worry about AI’s broader labor market effects, only 30% of employed respondents fear AI will render their jobs obsolete, up from 21% last year.
“There’s more concern about the labor market impact than about personal job security,” Triantoro observed. “This pattern is worth monitoring as AI further integrates into the workplace.”
Mistrust may also stem from skepticism about tech companies’ transparency. Two-thirds of respondents believe companies aren’t transparent about their AI use, and the government isn’t regulating AI adequately. States aim to retain regulatory power despite federal efforts for oversight.
“Americans are cautious about AI,” said Triantoro. “They’re warning of high uncertainty, low trust, insufficient regulation, and significant job fears.”