A new Pew Research study just dropped — and let's just say it lowkey confirms what a lot of us have been feeling: Americans are getting tired of AI barging into their personal lives.
According to the survey, 50% of Americans said they’re more concerned than excited about AI in their daily routines. That’s not just casual skepticism — that’s half the country side-eyeing the tech that’s supposed to be “helping” us.
And the trend is climbing: in 2021, only 37 felt this way, but now it’s jumped significantly (even after dipping slightly from 2023’s 52%).
So what’s driving this shift?
It’s not that people hate AI across the board. Most are cool with it crunching data, predicting weather, or helping researchers tackle diseases. But when it comes to personal spaces — that’s where the line gets drawn.
Take dating, for example:
Only 18% think AI should play any role in matchmaking.
Just 3% are comfortable with it playing a big role.
Basically, no one’s begging for a robot wingman.
And it’s not just dating:
Two-thirds of people don’t want AI anywhere near their love lives.
73% say it has no business giving advice on religion.
Then there’s misinformation. About 18% of Americans flagged it as their top worry — second only to fears about AI eroding creativity and human connection. On top of that, 53% admit they can’t confidently tell AI-generated content from the real thing. And honestly, with how fast AI images, voices, and videos are evolving… who can blame them?
Now here's a twist you probably didn’t expect: younger Americans are actually more worried about AI than older ones.
According to Pew, 57% of adults under 30 are extremely concerned that AI could erode human abilities, compared to 46% of those over 65. Usually, it’s the older crowd that’s cautious about new tech, but with AI, the script has flipped.
Interestingly, this survey doesn't fully align with claims from some AI companies. While certain firms suggest younger people are more comfortable with AI in personal spaces—like therapy, dating apps, and religious advice—the public's concerns seem to tell a different story.
So who’s right? Maybe both. Maybe neither. As the saying goes, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.
So let’s throw it to you: if you had to pick, where would you be okay with AI stepping in?
A) Big-picture science + data problems
B) Personal life stuff (dating, therapy, advice)
C) Nowhere at all
Hit reply and let us know where you stand
