As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes an increasingly dominant theme in headlines and boardrooms—heralded as a transformative force for everything from education to health care to the future of work—a quieter reality exists beneath the surface: most Americans are not engaging with AI in ways that match the hype. That disconnect carries important implications for how we understand the social and structural dynamics shaping technology’s role in everyday life.

AmeriSpeak’s recent AI Adoption Report sheds light on AI use in the United States. It reveals that 51 percent of Americans do not use AI at all for personal activities and only 14 percent report using it daily. In the workplace, 58 percent of employed Americans say they never use AI at work, with just 15 percent using it daily.

These numbers challenge the perception that AI is already a part of everyone’s daily life. They also highlight the importance of grounding technological policy and design in the lived experience of the public rather than media narratives or the perspectives of early adopters or technologists.

Demographic differences further complicate the picture. Older adults are the least likely to use AI, with nearly two-thirds of adults age 60 and above reporting no personal use. Gender and education level also play a role. Women are significantly more likely than men to be non-users, and people with a high school education or less say they are less likely to engage with AI, either at home or at work.

These disparities don’t necessarily reflect resistance to technology. Instead, they may reflect systemic differences in access, exposure, digital confidence, and perceived relevance. They also underscore the importance of asking not just how many people use AI but who uses it, how they use it, and who is being left out.

AI usage gaps aren’t new. They echo previous NORC studies on public comfort with emerging technologies. For instance, a 2023 survey by NORC and AARP’s Foresight 50+ panel found that while only 9 percent of adults aged 50 and older hadn’t heard of AI, a majority expressed unease with its use in key areas. Seventy-one percent said they were uncomfortable with self-driving cars, and about half reported unease with AI being used in hiring, finance, or medical decision-making. The contrast between high awareness and low comfort illustrates the nuanced space AI occupies in everyday life: familiar, yet not fully trusted.

Younger generations aren’t exempt from this complexity. A 2023 AmeriSpeak study of teens and adults found 45 percent of teenagers aged 13–17 and 50 percent of adults aged 18–59 said they had never used AI. Among those who do not use the technology, 68 percent of teens and 77 percent of adults said privacy is a key reason. This generational mirroring suggests that AI fluency doesn’t develop in a vacuum but is instead shaped by household norms, digital confidence, and the perceived value of the tools themselves.

These patterns demand attention. As AI tools increasingly influence decisions in areas like health care, education, and employment, the risk of designing systems based on unrepresentative or biased data grows. If we fail to understand the full range of public experiences and concerns, we risk building tools that work only for the most visible or vocal users.

This is where rigorous, representative research becomes essential. The AmeriSpeak panel is designed to reach beyond the digitally visible and engage people who are often missed in convenience samples or online surveys. These perspectives are not just valid, they are vital.

Understanding where Americans truly stand on AI isn’t about accelerating adoption. It’s about informing better decisions. Responsible innovation begins with listening especially to those on the margins of technological change.

For those working closely with AI, the data may be surprising. But it offers an important reminder: the future of technology doesn’t only depend on what’s possible. It depends on what people are ready for, what they trust, and what they need.