How Many US Adults Use AI Chatbots?
Pew Research Center's October 9, 2026 short read says that “about half of U.S. adults say they never use one” (Pew Research Center). The question, in the published topline, was: “Do you ever use an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot like ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot?” Of 5,119 adults surveyed February 17 to 23, 2026, 49% said “Yes, I do” and 51% “No, I do not” (Pew topline).
The short read is an excerpt from Pew's June 17, 2026 report, Americans and AI 2026: Chatbots, Smart Devices and Views on Impact. Respondents are members of Pew's American Trends Panel, and Pew says the survey “represents the views of the full U.S. adult population.” Our earlier guides drew on the same report for which chatbots people use; see how to get mentioned by ChatGPT. What is new in the short read is the detail on people who do not use them. Pew also says “chatbot use is rising,” so a February reading will understate any growth since; we have no later survey to say by how much.
Who Doesn't Use Them?
| Group | Ever use AI chatbots | Never use AI chatbots |
|---|---|---|
| All US adults | 49% | 51% |
| Ages 18 to 29 | 66% | 34% |
| Ages 30 to 49 | 61% | 39% |
| Ages 50 to 64 | 42% | 58% |
| Ages 65 and older | 23% | 77% |
| White adults | 46% | 54% |
| Black adults | 49% | 51% |
| Hispanic adults | 49% | 50% |
| Asian adults (English speakers only) | 70% | 29% |
Pew's headline for this chart is “Majority of Americans 50 and older don't use chatbots.” Roughly three-quarters of adults 65 and older say they never use one, and Pew notes that adults under 50 are the least likely not to use them. A company whose buyers, investors or customers skew older should not assume the same share of them ask a chatbot for recommendations. The reverse also holds: a company aiming at adults under 30 is aiming at the group where chatbot use is most common in this survey.
Why Do People Say They Don't Use Chatbots?
Pew asked the 2,502 non-users: “How much is each of the following a reason why you do not use artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots?” Each item was rated a major reason, a minor reason or not a reason. “I'm not interested in using them” was a major reason for 60% and a minor one for 23%, a net of 83%. Concern about how personal information will be used was 54% major and 24% minor (79% net), and not trusting chatbots to give accurate information was 45% major and 30% minor (76% net). Not knowing how to use them was 29% major and 26% minor (55% net). Only 3% called fear that others would judge them a major reason, and 14% any reason.
% of chatbot non-users calling each a major or minor reason
Each bar is Pew's NET of "major reason" plus "minor reason" among adults who say they do not ever use AI chatbots, not among all adults. Respondents rated every reason, so bars do not sum to 100%. Major-reason shares alone are 60%, 54%, 45%, 29% and 3%. Pew notes figures may not add to the NET because of rounding.
The chart shows that the main barriers are disinterest, privacy and accuracy rather than skill or social pressure. For a communications team, the accuracy and privacy objections are worth reading alongside our guides on whether people trust what AI says about companies and why survey data about AI should be read carefully.
Will Non-Users Start Using Them?
Pew asked non-users how likely they are to use a chatbot in the next 12 months. Two-thirds (67%) said not too or not at all likely, including 40% not at all likely. Another 16% said somewhat likely, 5% extremely or very likely, and 12% were not sure (Pew). On that evidence, most of the non-user half does not expect to change within a year. That is a statement of intent in February 2026, not a forecast, and we cannot say how it has moved since.
Does Non-Use Mean People Never See AI Answers?
No, and this is the main limit on the finding. The question asks whether people use a chatbot. It does not ask whether they see AI-written summaries inside a search engine or another product, which is a different exposure. Someone who says they never use a chatbot may still see an AI answer at the top of a search page. The short read does not measure that, so we do not estimate it. Our guides on whether AI Overviews reduce clicks and AI answer visibility deal with that question separately.
What This Means for Anyone Buying a Placement
These points are our recommendations, not Pew's.
- Do not make chatbot citation the only goal. If half of adults never use chatbots, a campaign judged solely on whether a chatbot names the company ignores a large share of the audience.
- Match the channel to the audience. If your buyers are 65 or older, 77% of that age group in this survey never use chatbots. Press, trade titles and podcasts that those readers already use remain relevant.
- Remember that trust cuts both ways. Non-users cite accuracy and privacy, and users may share some of that doubt. Coverage in a named, checkable outlet gives a reader something to verify.
- No placement can promise a citation. A paid article or sponsored post is advertising and does not buy an AI answer or a ranking.
Methodology and Limitations
Four limits apply. First, the figures come from Pew's short read, checked against the published topline for question wording, the non-user base of 2,502 and the reason items; small differences are rounding, such as the 5% “extremely or very likely,” which the topline shows as 1% and 3%. Second, the survey was fielded in February 2026, and Pew describes chatbot use as rising. Third, the Asian estimate covers English speakers only, and we draw no conclusion about other groups. Fourth, the survey measures personal chatbot use, not exposure to AI answers in search or the share of purchases influenced by them.
Conclusion
Pew's data show a divided public: about half of US adults use chatbots and about half do not, with age the sharpest divide. Most non-users say they are uninterested, worried about privacy or doubtful about accuracy, and most do not plan to start within a year. For a buyer, the practical result is to treat chatbot visibility as one channel among several, and to check who your own audience is before deciding how much weight it deserves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What share of US adults use AI chatbots?
Pew Research Center reports 49% say they ever use one and 51% say they do not, in a survey of 5,119 US adults fielded February 17 to 23, 2026.
Which age group is least likely to use chatbots?
Adults 65 and older. Pew reports 77% never use them, compared with 34% of adults 18 to 29.
What is the most common reason people give for not using chatbots?
Not being interested. Among non-users, 83% call it a major or minor reason, and 60% a major one, according to Pew.
Do non-users plan to start using chatbots?
Most do not. Pew reports 67% of non-users say they are not too or not at all likely to use one in the next 12 months, and 5% say extremely or very likely.
Does this mean AI search visibility does not matter?
No. The survey measures personal chatbot use, not exposure to AI answers in search, and about half of adults do use chatbots. It does suggest chatbot citation should not be the only measure of coverage.
Can a placement guarantee that a chatbot mentions a company?
No. A paid or sponsored placement is advertising and does not buy an AI citation or ranking.
Sources
This report is built from a Pew Research Center short read and the topline of the June 2026 report it excerpts, both read on October 14, 2026. Statements about what the findings mean for buyers are house recommendations, not Pew's conclusions. We did not test any chatbot.
- survey research Pew Research Center, Why Don't Some People Use Chatbots? Supports every figure, the sample, the fieldwork dates and the chart. Read October 14, 2026.
- survey research Pew Research Center, Americans and AI 2026: Chatbots, Smart Devices and Views on Impact. The full report the short read excerpts. Read October 14, 2026.
- survey research Pew Research Center, Americans and AI topline. Supports the question wording, the non-user base of 2,502 and the response shares. Read October 14, 2026.