More Americans use AI tools than ever before, but trust in the technology is heading in the opposite direction. A new Quinnipiac University poll of nearly 1,400 Americans found that 76% trust AI rarely or only sometimes, according to TechCrunch AI. Meanwhile, adoption keeps growing: only 27% say they’ve never used AI tools, down from 33% in April 2025.
The gap between usage and confidence is the headline here. Over half of respondents (51%) use AI for research, and many rely on it for writing, work projects, and data analysis. Yet only 21% trust AI-generated information most or almost all of the time.
“The contradiction between use and trust of AI is striking,” said Chetan Jaiswal, a computer science professor at Quinnipiac. “Americans are clearly adopting AI, but they are doing so with deep hesitation, not deep trust.”
📊 The Numbers at a Glance
- 76% trust AI rarely or only sometimes
- 62% are not excited about AI’s future
- 80% are concerned about AI (very or somewhat)
- 55% believe AI will do more harm than good in daily life
- 70% expect AI to reduce job opportunities (up from 56% last year)
- 65% oppose AI data centers being built in their communities
- 66% say businesses aren’t transparent enough about AI use
- 66% say the government isn’t doing enough to regulate AI
These numbers have shifted noticeably since last year’s survey, and not in AI’s favor. TechCrunch AI notes this may not be surprising after a year of Big Tech layoffs, troubling AI incidents, and growing concerns about energy-hungry data centers.
🧑💻 Gen Z: Most Fluent, Least Optimistic
Gen Z stands out as a paradox. They report the highest familiarity with AI tools but are the most pessimistic about the job market, with 81% expecting a decrease in opportunities. The concern isn’t abstract: entry-level job postings in the U.S. have dropped 35% since 2023, and AI leaders like Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei have openly warned the tech will eliminate jobs.
“AI fluency and optimism here are moving in opposite directions,” said Tamilla Triantoro, a professor of business analytics at Quinnipiac.
What’s interesting is the psychological gap between macro and micro fears. Among employed Americans, only 30% worry AI will make their specific job obsolete, even though 70% think the broader labor market will shrink. People predict a tougher market but don’t picture themselves on the losing end. That number is climbing though, up from 21% last year.
🏛️ Regulation and Transparency Gaps
Two-thirds of respondents say both businesses and the government are falling short. Companies aren’t being transparent enough about how they use AI, and regulators aren’t doing enough to oversee it. This sentiment arrives as states fight to maintain authority over AI rules while federal officials push for a lighter touch.
What This Means for Practitioners
For anyone building or deploying AI products, this poll is a reality check. Users are adopting your tools, but they’re not buying the hype. Practical takeaways:
- Transparency wins trust. Two-thirds of Americans want more openness about AI use. Companies that clearly label AI-generated content and explain how their systems work have a competitive advantage.
- Don’t oversell accuracy. Users already distrust AI outputs. Setting honest expectations about limitations builds more loyalty than inflated claims.
- Job displacement fears are real and growing. Any AI product targeting the workplace needs to frame itself as augmenting human work, not replacing it. The narrative matters.
- Community impact matters. Opposition to data centers (65%) signals that AI’s physical footprint is becoming a PR problem, not just an infrastructure challenge.
“Americans are not rejecting AI outright, but they are sending a warning,” Triantoro said. “Too much uncertainty, too little trust, too little regulation, and too much fear about jobs.”
The full Quinnipiac University poll results and methodology are available at the original source.