{"id":313670,"date":"2026-06-17T09:55:30","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T13:46:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?p=313670"},"modified":"2026-07-09T15:23:58","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T19:23:58","slug":"what-do-americans-think-ai-is","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2026\/06\/17\/what-do-americans-think-ai-is\/","title":{"rendered":"What do Americans think AI is?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
About this research<\/summary>\n

This study is Pew Research Center\u2019s latest effort to explore how Americans use and view artificial intelligence (AI). The study also dives into who uses chatbots and has smart home devices with AI features. It also explores what impact people think AI will have on society and on them, personally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did we do this?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Center conducts research to inform the public, journalists and decision-makers.\u00a0Tracking the rise of AI in society<\/a> has been a key priority for us over the years. It\u2019s important to understand how people use AI in their lives and how they feel these tools will impact themselves and society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about Pew Research Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did we do this?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We surveyed 5,119 U.S. adults from Feb. 17 to 23, 2026. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center\u2019s American Trends Panel (ATP)<\/a>. The survey represents the views of the full U.S. adult population.

Here are\u00a0the\u00a0questions used\u00a0for this report,<\/a> the topline<\/a> and the\u00a0survey methodology<\/a>.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

The existence of artificial\u00a0intelligence (AI) has moved from a question of if to when, and now. But when people think of AI, they associate it with a range of things \u2013 from chatbots to smartwatches or even science fiction.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Chatbots are most commonly top of mind when Americans think of AI; but about 1 in 10 point to robots and sci-fi<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
% of U.S. adults who say that __ are the first type of technology that come to mind when thinking about AI<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
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Note: Verbatim responses have been coded into categories. Only responses that were given by at least 3% of respondents are shown. Refer to the topline for the full list of categories. <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted Feb. 17-23, 2026.
\u201cAmericans and AI 2026: Chatbots, Smart Devices and Views on Impact\u201d<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
PEW RESEARCH CENTER<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Share this chart<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t