Survey: 60% of Americans use AI for search while workplace adoption lags and companionship use low

A comprehensive survey from the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that American AI adoption follows predictable patterns—with a notable generation gap that could reshape how businesses think about workplace technology integration.

The polling data, based on responses from 1,437 adults surveyed in July, shows that while 60% of Americans use artificial intelligence to search for information, workplace adoption remains surprisingly limited. Only about 4 in 10 Americans report using AI for work tasks, suggesting that despite years of industry hype about productivity-boosting AI assistants, most professionals haven’t yet integrated these tools into their daily routines.

However, the generational divide tells a different story about AI’s future trajectory. Among adults under 30, usage rates jump dramatically across nearly every category, with 74% using AI for information searches and significantly higher adoption for creative and professional tasks.

Information searching dominates AI usage

The most common way Americans interact with AI is through information searches, though many users may not realize they’re engaging with artificial intelligence. Google, the dominant search engine, has integrated AI-generated responses that appear at the top of search results for over a year, automatically providing summaries that attempt to answer user queries.

This ubiquitous integration means AI usage statistics likely undercount actual exposure to the technology. When users see those AI-generated summaries at the top of Google results, they’re interacting with machine learning systems even if they don’t consciously recognize it as “using AI.”

Sanaa Wilson, a 28-year-old freelance data scientist from the Los Angeles area, represents the cautious approach many younger users take toward AI-generated information. She trusts AI responses for basic factual questions—like what day Christmas falls on in 2025—but scrolls past AI summaries when researching complex topics like California politics or education policy.

“When it gets to specific news, related to what’s happening in California or what’s happening to the education system and stuff like that, I will scroll down a little bit further,” Wilson explains.

The workplace adoption gap

Despite extensive corporate investment in AI tools and widespread media coverage of productivity benefits, workplace AI adoption remains limited. The survey found that roughly 40% of Americans use AI for work tasks at least sometimes, while about one-third use it for email writing, image creation, or entertainment purposes.

This adoption gap suggests that either the promised productivity benefits haven’t materialized for most workers, or significant barriers prevent workplace integration. Wilson’s experience illustrates both the potential and the hesitation: she uses AI heavily for coding assistance at work, saving hundreds of dollars she would otherwise spend on training, but stopped using ChatGPT for email writing after learning about its environmental impact and concerns about skill atrophy.

“It’s just an email. I can work it out,” Wilson says. “However many minutes it takes, or seconds it takes, I can still type it myself.”

For businesses, this workplace adoption gap represents both a challenge and an opportunity. Companies investing in AI tools may need to focus more on change management and training rather than assuming employees will naturally adopt new technologies.

The generation gap reveals AI’s trajectory

The most striking finding involves generational differences in AI adoption. About 60% of adults under 30 use AI for brainstorming and idea generation, compared with only 20% of those over 60. Young adults are also more likely to use AI daily for creative tasks.

Courtney Thayer, a 34-year-old audiologist from Des Moines, Iowa, bridges these generational approaches. She regularly uses ChatGPT for meal planning and nutritional calculations, asking it to “make a meal prep for the week, then to add an Asian flair.” While acknowledging the results aren’t always perfect, she values AI as a “nice stepping off point” that helps reduce food waste through better portion planning.

At work, Thayer embraces AI both because it’s embedded in the hearing aids she recommends to patients and because it streamlines professional email drafting. However, she carefully avoids using AI for medical advice after witnessing chatbots “hallucinate”—a technical term describing when AI systems generate false or misleading information that appears authoritative.

This selective adoption pattern suggests that younger users are developing sophisticated frameworks for when and how to trust AI systems, potentially making them more effective long-term users than those who either avoid AI entirely or use it uncritically.

Companionship remains niche but notable

The least common AI application involves companionship, though even this niche use case shows generational patterns. Just under 20% of all adults and about 25% of those under 30 report using AI for companionship purposes.

Wilson attributes this trend partly to COVID-19’s impact on social experiences for her generation, saying she “totally understands and sympathizes” with peers who turn to AI for social interaction. However, she has no personal interest in AI companions.

Interestingly, some users develop quasi-social relationships with AI tools even when not seeking companionship. Thayer admits to being polite with chatbots “just in case they’re keeping track,” saying please and thank you during interactions. “I mean, I am nice to it, just because I’ve watched movies, right?” she laughs.

Business implications and future outlook

These adoption patterns suggest several important trends for businesses and AI companies. First, the generational divide indicates that workplace AI adoption will likely accelerate as younger workers advance in their careers and gain decision-making authority. Companies planning long-term AI strategies should consider this demographic shift.

Second, the gap between information search adoption (60%) and workplace task adoption (40%) suggests that AI tools may need better integration with existing workflows rather than requiring users to learn entirely new platforms. The success of Google’s integrated search responses demonstrates how seamless AI integration can drive adoption.

Finally, the selective, cautious approach many users take—trusting AI for some tasks while avoiding it for others—indicates that successful AI products will need to clearly communicate their limitations and appropriate use cases rather than positioning themselves as universal solutions.

The survey data reveals an AI adoption landscape that’s more nuanced than simple enthusiasm or resistance. Americans are gradually integrating AI into specific aspects of their lives, with younger users leading the way and developing sophisticated frameworks for when to trust these systems. For businesses, this suggests that successful AI implementation will require patience, training, and careful attention to use case fit rather than assuming universal adoption will happen automatically.