1 in 4 Americans
Now Use AI
of Americans report using artificial intelligence tools, according to the latest Census pulse survey of 7,451 respondents.
1 in 4 Americans now use AI — but the adoption gap is stark. Those earning $200K+ are 3× more likely to use AI than those earning under $25K. As AI reshapes the economy, this digital divide could widen inequality faster than any technology since the internet.
What AI Is Used For
Percentage of AI users who use each tool type
AI Purposes
What AI users say they use AI for (% of AI users)
AI Concerns
Percentage of all respondents who expressed each concern
Who Uses AI? Demographics Breakdown
By Age
By Income
By Education
Metro vs. Non-Metro
AI adoption rates across major metro areas and non-metro regions
Regional AI Adoption Rankings
AI usage rates across 9 Census divisions
The Full Picture: Americans and AI in 2026
Census HTOPS is one of several major surveys tracking AI adoption. Here's how the data compares:
How Census Data Compares
Workplace AI usage (50%) far exceeds personal use (24%), suggesting many people use AI at work without considering it “personal use.” The Census HTOPS survey specifically asks about personal AI tool usage, which captures a narrower but important slice of the AI adoption story. Different surveys with different question framing produce complementary — not contradictory — results.