Poll: As Americans form views on AI, they're divided on its role in school and everyday life
Americans are almost evenly split on several questions measuring their views on artificial intelligence, with no meaningful differences based on age and partisanship, according to the NBC News Decision Desk Poll powered by SurveyMonkey.
The split views on AI use and AI's impact on the future come as elected officials in Washington have largely left AI companies untouched, introducing few regulations that constrain them.
President Donald Trump has undone many of the initial attempts at regulation and oversight put in place by then-President Joe Biden, and many Republicans have embraced the Trump administration's anti-regulation stance on AI. But in the background, college professors and teachers across the U.S. have expressed exasperation at the potential influence that increasing student use of AI could have on young minds, and many progressives have balked at AI's potential influence on the job market and the environment, with many urging others to abandon the use of AI altogether.
Slightly less than half — 44% — of U.S. adults surveyed said that they used AI tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini or Microsoft Copilot 'sometimes' or 'very often,' while 56% said they used these tools 'rarely' or 'never.'
The poll, which also surveyed respondents about politics and the Trump administration, found no meaningful breakdowns in AI tool use by political party.
Looking at the issue by partisanship, 14% of Republicans, 14% of Democrats and 15% of independent voters said they used AI tools 'very often,' while another 28% of Republicans, 31% of Democrats and 31% of independent voters said they used AI tools 'sometimes.' Then, 29% of Republicans, 31% of Democrats and 28% of independent voters said they 'rarely' used AI tools.
The survey also asked respondents to consider the impact of AI on the future. While 44% of American adults surveyed said they thought AI would make their and their families' lives 'much better' or 'somewhat better,' illustrating the evolving and still-forming nature of the public's feelings on AI, just 7% of those surveyed said they felt it would make lives 'much' better, with 37% choosing the 'somewhat' option.
Meanwhile, 42% of respondents said they thought AI would make their and their families' futures 'somewhat worse' or 'much worse.' Again, a smaller portion of respondents — in this case, 16% — said that AI would make their futures 'much' worse.
Once again, there were few strong divisions among respondents by partisanship. Exactly half of Republicans responded that they expected their futures to be 'much better' or 'somewhat better' due to AI. Slightly fewer Democrats — 42% — and independent voters — 41% — said the same.
Similarly, 39% of Republicans said they thought AI would make their and their families' futures 'somewhat worse' or 'much worse,' while slightly more Democrats — 47% — said the same. Forty-three percent of independent voters also said that AI would make the future somewhat or much worse.
The survey also tested views about the use of AI in schools, with a near even split among American adults about whether using AI tools in schools prepares students well for the future.
Just over half — 53% — of survey respondents agreed that the integration of AI tools in the classroom could better prepare students for the future.
The remainder — 47% — thought that prohibiting the use of AI tools in the classroom would better prepare students.
The divide comes as educators grapple with the encroachment of increasingly accessible technologies capable of helping students research, study or cheat more efficiently. While some teachers have swung back toward handwritten essays and in-class work in efforts to prevent AI use, others have embraced AI by intentionally integrating it into assignments.
Last year, OpenAI rolled out ChatGPT Edu, a version of its flagship chatbot made specifically for use on college campuses. Google's Gemini and Microsoft's Copilot are also among the major AI models that have introduced tools for education. And AI-powered tutors or assistants — from newer platforms like SchoolAI to more traditional ones like Khan Academy — increasingly offer services for educators.
Once again, there were no significant breaks along party lines in people's views of the use of AI in schools.
Slightly more Democrats — 57% — agreed with the first premise, that schools that actively integrate AI in the classroom better prepare students for the future. Fifty percent of Republican voters and 51% of independent voters said the same.
Meanwhile, 50% of Republicans agreed with the second statement, that schools that prohibit the use of AI in the classroom better prepare students. Forty-nine percent of independent voters and 43% of Democrats said the same.
Among age groups, there was also little variation in views of the use of AI in schools.
Adults ages 18 to 29 were evenly split, with 50% supporting schools incorporating the use of AI in the classroom and 50% supporting schools that prohibit the use of AI in the classroom. In the next-oldest generation — those ages 30 to 44 — 54% of respondents supported schools using AI and 46% supported schools that prohibit AI.
Older generations also did not have significant splits on the use of AI in schools.
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