Artificial Intelligence: Key insights, data and tables
Artificial Intelligence: Key insights, data and tables

Artificial Intelligence: Key insights, data and tables

Here’s what business leaders and policymakers need to know about public opinion on AI, from chatbots and shopping recommendations to data centers

Key Takeaways

49%

of people across 32 global countries agree that the potential benefits of AI for society outweigh the environmental costs.

24%

of Americans now say they use AI tools “often”

50%

of empoyed Americans say they are seeing ChatGPT or similar tools used in their workplace

Enthusiasm around AI is growing in some countries and waning in others 

Increasingly, Whether you are positive or skeptical about AI depends on where you live, according to the 2026 Ipsos AI Monitor. People in Asia and LATAM are on average more likely to think AI has more benefits than drawbacks and are excited about products and services using AI. While in Europe and North America people are on average more likely to feel nervous about AI. (Read more.)

More Americans say AI tools are being used at work

Between 2024 and 2025, the levels of people seeing AI tools in their workplaces were fairly flat. Now, more workers are seeing more tools used for more things. Many more workers (50% vs 38%) are seeing ChatGPT or similar tools used in their workplaces. One in three see AI image generators, up from one in four in 2025. And tools for data analysis are up to 41% from 32%. (Read more.)

AI data centers are unpopular with most Americans

Overall, AI data centers are not popular. Only 27% agree that AI data centers would significantly contribute to economic growth and job creation in their community. Only one in four say that the tech advancements outweigh the potential concerns. (Read more.)

If you trust AI recommendations generally, you trust them for most things

Perhaps the easiest way to read the data is that if folks trust AI recommendations, they trust them for… whatever. The relative trust is reasonably consistent across a wide range of products and services tested. There are some notable things below the surface of this, however. Men are more likely to trust the AI in every case. Younger folks are generally more likely to trust AI for recommendations, but we’re pretty evenly skeptical of advice on both medical procedures and over-the-counter medications. And we trust AI to know electronics the most, across all age groups. (Read more.)

Generative AI use is getting more mainstream in America

Overall, frequent usage of AI chatbot-like tools is flat in the U.S. What has shifted is the regularity. One in four (24%) now say they use these tools “often,” up from 17% last fall. Meanwhile, the number of people who say they never use AI tools has fallen from 26% to 17%, as more people say they use AI at least “rarely.” (Read more.)

Americans think AI needs to slow down — and they need to keep up

On one hand, two in three Americans (66%) think that the pace of AI development is too fast. Granted, most Americans (80% when we last asked in September for Ipsos Global Trends) think the world is changing too fast, regardless. But even more Americans (76%) think that people also just need to keep up with the advancement of AI. (Read more.)

Americans’ views of generative AI are evolving: More ‘fake’ and ‘soulless,’ less ‘futuristic’

The conversation around AI content has shifted. When Ipsos first asked Americans about AI-generated content in 2023, the top terms people chose were all positive: “Futuristic,” “Innovative” and “Creative” topped the list. Today, Americans are more likely to think it’s “fake,” “soulless,” or “Not ‘real art.’”. (Read more.)

Most Americans agree the government should regulate AI, but party splits emerge on how 

A strong, bipartisan majority feel that government has a role to play in regulating AI, with just one in ten people saying there should be no regulation. But while Americans broadly agree about regulating AI to avoid harm, Democrats are far more passionate about the technology's impacts on the environment. (Read more.)

Americans are most comfortable with AI shopping agents when they lean on prior preferences

Only a quarter (27%) of Gen Z Americans  — and just 4% of Gen X and Boomers —would trust an AI agent to choose and purchase a product on their behalf, sight unseen. But even those who would let AI spend on their behalf want it to draw on past behaviors when deciding what to buy, whether by limiting the agent to previously purchased brands or to products on a predetermined list. (Read more.)

Gen Z and Millennials trust AI for most financial advice, while older Americans are wary

Both Gen Z and Millennials in the U.S. are generally trusting of AI advice on financial topics. About half of Americans under 29 say they would trust AI recommendations for credit cards, insurance policies, or retirement planning, though their confidence dips when it comes to stocks or investments. Older Americans, on the other hand, are considerably less confident in AI advice on financial topics across the board. (Read more.)

AI skepticism is high, and ads could hurt trust even more 

Nearly three in four Americans think the government should take action to prevent AI-induced job losses, and half think it will lead to more income inequality and a more polarized society. Even so, 67% agree that using AI in the workplace can save time and resources. (Read more.)

Lack of need and trust are still barriers for AI adoption

Lack of trust in the results and lack of need or perceived benefits are the main reasons people cite for not using AI more. Lack of understanding is further behind, and lack of affordability and access are cited by just single digits. (Read more.)

More Americans are using AI chatbots...

After a period of flatness as we’ve trended this question, usage is up vs. March, when we last asked about AI chatbots. This follows a period of intense and prolonged marketing, as well as significant technical advances and integration of these bots into more and more other components of our digital lives. (Read more.)

...But people are doing less with AI chatbots

In March, pretty much every task saw more people using it (compared to March 2024), which we posited at the time hinted at some bifurcation with those using the services becoming power users and pulling away from those who weren’t. This wave, we see usage of every sort decline slightly, in some cases all the way back to 2024 levels. (Read more.)

People still largely prefer human-generated content over AI content

About three in four Americans want humans to create news and entertainment content, according to the Ipsos Consumer Tracker. Two in three want humans making their marketing and art content. (Read more.)

Further reading 

Historical data 

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