Pew: Americans Weigh AI’s Promise And Risks.

Americans are cautiously open to AI’s potential but remain deeply concerned about its societal and personal impacts, according to a new Pew Research Center report.

When it comes to creativity, 53% of U.S. adults say AI will make people worse at thinking creatively, while only 16% believe it will improve that skill. Similarly, half say AI will harm people’s ability to form meaningful relationships, compared to just 5% who think it will help. For both skills, about a quarter believe AI will have no effect.

Views are more mixed on AI’s influence on problem-solving: 38% think it will worsen this ability, 29% believe it will improve it, and around 16–20% say they’re unsure about AI’s impact on various human skills.

Concerns extend beyond specific abilities. Over half (51%) say they’re extremely or very concerned that people’s ability to function independently will decline due to AI, while 31% are somewhat concerned. Fewer (21%) are highly concerned that reluctance to adopt AI could result in missed opportunities, with 29% somewhat concerned.

The findings are based on a Pew survey of 5,023 U.S. adults conducted June 9–15, 2025, through the Center’s American Trends Panel.

Awareness of AI is growing: 47% say they’ve heard or read a lot about it, up 7 points since last year and 21 points since 2022. Among adults under 30, that number jumped from 33% in 2022 to 62% today.

As AI use expands, 50% of Americans report feeling more concerned than excited, a 13-point rise since 2021. Just 10% say they’re more excited than concerned, while 38% feel equally about both.

Control is another major issue. A majority (57%) say they have little to no control over AI in their lives. Only 13% feel they have significant control, and 30% report having some. Meanwhile, 61% say they want more control over AI use, while 17% are satisfied with the control they have, and 21% aren’t sure.

Confidence in detecting AI-generated content is also low. Over half (53%) say they’re not confident in telling whether images, videos, or text are made by AI or humans. Despite this, 76% say it’s very or extremely important to know the origin of such content.

When it comes to AI’s role in society, Americans show more openness to AI handling analytical or technical tasks than personal ones. Most support at least a small role for AI in weather forecasting (74%), detecting financial crimes (70%), and developing new medicines (66%).

However, many resist AI in intimate or spiritual roles. About two-thirds say AI should have no role in judging romantic compatibility, and 73% say it should stay out of advising on matters of faith. In fact, no more than one-third of Americans think AI should play a major role in any of the ten areas Pew surveyed.

Perceptions of AI’s overall impact are tilted toward caution. A majority (57%) believe the risks AI poses to society are very high or high, while only 25% see its benefits at the same level. Still, some recognize both: 15% of adults rate both the risks and benefits as high.