Welcome to the forefront of conversational AI as we explore the fascinating world of AI chatbots in our dedicated blog series. Discover the latest advancements, applications, and strategies that propel the evolution of chatbot technology. From enhancing customer interactions to streamlining business processes, these articles delve into the innovative ways artificial intelligence is shaping the landscape of automated conversational agents. Whether you’re a business owner, developer, or simply intrigued by the future of interactive technology, join us on this journey to unravel the transformative power and endless possibilities of AI chatbots.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
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This study is Pew Research Center’s 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.
The Center conducts research to inform the public, journalists and decision-makers. Tracking the rise of AI in society has been a key priority for us over the years. It’s important to understand how people use AI in their lives and how they feel these tools will impact themselves and society.
Learn more about Pew Research Center.
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’s American Trends Panel (ATP). The survey represents the views of the full U.S. adult population.
Here are the questions used for this report, the topline and the survey methodology.
The existence of artificial intelligence (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 – from chatbots to smartwatches or even science fiction.
For the first time, Pew Research Center asked Americans: What technology comes to mind when you first think of AI?
We found that not only are more people using chatbots, this is the most common technology people first associate with AI. About three-in-ten answer with chatbots generally or name specific brands when asked about the first technology that comes to mind when thinking of AI, according to a survey of 5,119 U.S. adults conducted Feb. 17-23, 2026.
About one-in-ten mention robots and science-fiction, including films like “The Terminator” and “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
Roughly similar shares name images and videos or generative AI and large language models (LLMs) first.
Meanwhile, 3%-4% cite the internet or technology generally (e.g., computers or phones), a negative view of AI, or search engines as being top of mind.
Go to the topline for the full list of categories. This is part of a larger study of Americans about their experiences and views of AI. Jump to the main report for more.
As AI continues to expand into different tools, some say they are regularly interacting with this technology.
Today, nearly four-in-ten U.S. adults say they engage with AI at least several times a day. This includes 7% who report doing so almost constantly.
Another three-in-ten say they do so about once a day or several times a week. And about a third report engaging with AI less often.
As AI becomes part of daily life, more people are calling for ways to increase AI literacy. Overall, awareness of AI is now nearly universal: 96% of adults say they know at least a little about AI.
In fact, the share who say they’ve heard a lot about AI has grown substantially over the past five years. Today, that group is about half of U.S. adults, up from 26% in 2022.
Americans have also become far more aware of chatbots over the past couple years. Roughly nine-in-ten U.S. adults report hearing at least a little about these tools, including 44% who have heard a lot.
This is far higher than in August 2024. Then, about seven-in-ten Americans had heard of chatbots, with 28% reporting hearing a lot.
When it comes to the public’s confidence in using chatbots, about one-in-five adults are extremely or very confident in their ability to use a chatbot. A slightly larger share report that they are somewhat confident.
Fewer Americans lack confidence in using chatbots. About one-in-ten say they are not too or not at all confident using these tools. About half of adults do not use chatbots at all.
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ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan, nonadvocacy fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It does not take policy positions. The Center conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, computational social science research and other data-driven research. Pew Research Center is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, its primary funder.
© 2026 Pew Research Center
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