What share of people in the Pew survey saw AI positively?

Only 16% of U.S. adults expected AI to have a positive impact on society over the next 20 years, while about 40% expected a negative impact. These are Pew Research findings reported by TechCrunch on June 17, 2026.

What did AI usage look like?

Forty-four percent of U.S. adults use ChatGPT, double the share in 2023, and about 25% use an AI chatbot daily. Gemini followed at 24%, Copilot at 17%, and Meta AI at 14%, while 60% routinely read AI-generated summaries.

Only 16% of Americans Say AI Will Be Good for Society: A Warning From Pew Research

Q: What did responses on trust show?

Sixty-seven percent doubt the U.S. government will meaningfully regulate AI, and 59% do not believe companies will develop it safely. About two-thirds said AI development is moving too fast.

Just 16% of U.S. adults believe AI will have a positive impact on society over the next 20 years. Reported by TechCrunch on June 17, 2026, this Pew Research finding shows that roughly 40% expect a negative impact. Usage is climbing fast, but trust lags far behind it. That "usage-trust gap" is the heart of the survey.

What the survey asked

Pew Research asked U.S. adults about AI's expected impact on society over the next 20 years, along with how they actually use AI. TechCrunch (Lucas Ropek) reported the results on June 17, 2026.

The headline finding is clear pessimism. Positive expectations stood at 16% and negative ones at about 40%, with the rest either neutral or unsure.

Trust runs even lower

Distrust of regulators and companies runs far deeper than positive sentiment. Sixty-seven percent of respondents doubt the U.S. government will meaningfully regulate AI, and 59% do not believe companies will develop AI safely.

Anxiety about the pace is high too. About two-thirds said AI development is moving too fast. In other words, doubts about safety and control are widespread.

Yet usage has surged

Pessimism aside, actual use has grown quickly. Forty-four percent of U.S. adults say they use ChatGPT, double the share in 2023, and roughly 25% use an AI chatbot every day.

By tool, Gemini led at 24%, followed by Copilot at 17% and Meta AI at 14%, while 60% said they routinely read AI-generated summaries in search. The "use it but don't trust it" duality is striking.

Generational and gender gaps

Perception and usage split along age and gender lines. Among those under 30, positive expectations were lowest at 14%, while about 75% of people 65 and older never use AI chatbots at all.

There is a gender gap as well. Daily usage was 27% among men versus 20% among women, with men engaging more actively.

What it means for us

The Pew findings send a clear signal to both AI companies and content creators. As the 16% figure shows, usage does not equal trust, and safety, transparency, and source attribution become preconditions for adoption.

Especially in a fast-moving period like 2026, those who transparently show "what they build and how" will earn long-term trust. The core of the pessimism is doubt about controllability rather than the technology itself.

References: TechCrunch — Only 16% of Americans think AI will have a positive impact (2026.6.17) · The Verge — Pew Research on AI usage