One Third of Americans Are Now Heavy AI Users
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A new survey has revealed that roughly one-third of Americans are now considered 'heavy AI users.'
In a poll of more than 1,000 U.S. adults by SEO and digital marketing consultant Joe Youngblood, 75 percent of American consumers said they used an artificial intelligence system in the last six months.
Seventeen percent of respondents said they used an AI system multiple times a day, and 16 percent said they use it at least once a day.
Why It Matters
The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence systems is leading to major changes in how Americans interact with technology, information and everyday services.
As AI becomes increasingly integrated into web searches, workplace tasks and personal routines, data from multiple recent studies have indicated a sizable shift in user behavior, digital literacy and the broader impact on work and social structures.
Understanding the prevalence and patterns of AI usage could be crucial for policymakers and businesses alike, as gaps in adoption persist across age groups, education and socioeconomic backgrounds.
A close-up of a smartphone displaying the ChatGPT logo on a white screen, with the same ChatGPT logo shown on a laptop screen on February 19, 2025, in Chongqing, China.
A close-up of a smartphone displaying the ChatGPT logo on a white screen, with the same ChatGPT logo shown on a laptop screen on February 19, 2025, in Chongqing, China.What To Know
According to Youngblood's nationwide survey of 1,151 American adults, approximately 33 percent now qualify as "heavy AI users," defined as using large language model-based artificial intelligence systems at least once per day or more frequently.
Overall, 75.16 percent of respondents had used an AI system in some capacity over the past six months, with 17.12 percent reporting usage multiple times per day and 15.90 percent indicating daily use.
Another 42.14 percent identified as "casual users," employing AI between once a week and once every six months. Only about 16.50 percent said they never use AI, earning the label "AI haters" in the study's terminology.
When asked about their preferred AI platforms, 46.13 percent cited ChatGPT, followed by Google Gemini (22.76 percent), Meta AI on Facebook (19.29 percent), Google AI Overviews (18.94 percent), and Microsoft Copilot (15.81 percent).
Google accounted for three of the top six systems in use, while ChatGPT remained the single most popular individual platform.
Searching the web ranked as the most common application for AI, with 29.28 percent of Americans saying they use such tools for this purpose.
Additional popular uses included learning new topics (24.76 percent), correcting grammar and spelling (19.80 percent), generating new ideas (19.64 percent), entertainment (16.59 percent), and exploring complex concepts (15.12 percent).
Recent polling by the Associated Press and NORC echoed this trend, indicating that 60 percent of Americans use AI to find information at least occasionally, rising to 74 percent among those under the age of 30. However, the AP-NORC data also found that only four in ten Americans use AI for work or brainstorming, with younger adults showing greater engagement than their older counterparts.
Despite the accelerated pace of adoption, other sources caution that actual daily AI engagement may fall below perceived hype. A July AmeriSpeak report estimated that just 14 percent of Americans use AI daily for personal activities, and 15 percent do so for work tasks.
What People Are Saying
Grant McDonald, the CEO and founder of AI parenting app Bobo, told Newsweek: "This surge in AI adoption proves that Americans are drowning in information overload and becoming increasingly comfortable with turning to AI as a practical solution for cutting through the noise. We're seeing this across every sector, from health care to parenting, where AI helps people make better decisions faster."
What Happens Next
As AI use expands, its influence on work, education, and information consumption is expected to grow, especially among younger and more digitally literate Americans.
"We're heading toward a future where AI becomes as essential as smartphones, not replacing human judgment, but augmenting it intelligently - and people are starting to embrace that," McDonald said. "The key will be ensuring these tools remain accessible and ethical while truly serving human needs."
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