Article illustration 2

A stark generational divide defines how Americans interact with artificial intelligence, according to a July 2025 poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. While 60% of U.S. adults now use AI tools like search assistants regularly, adoption skews dramatically toward younger users—74% of those under 30 rely on AI for information retrieval, compared to just 46% of adults 60 or older. This gap widens for creative and professional applications: 58% of younger adults use AI for brainstorming ideas, versus 20% of seniors, revealing how age shapes trust and reliance on emerging tech.

The Productivity Paradox

Despite pervasive marketing of AI as a workplace revolution, only 40% of respondents report using it for job-related tasks. Audiologist Courtney Thayer, 34, exemplifies the cautious embrace:

"I use ChatGPT for meal planning and nutritional calculations—it's a stepping-off point that reduces waste," she told the AP. At work, AI streamlines her email drafting and integrates into hearing aids she recommends, but she avoids it for medical advice due to hallucination risks: "I’ve seen chatbots invent false information on topics I studied for years."

Thayer’s approach highlights a broader trend: users prioritize AI for low-stakes efficiency gains while resisting dependency for critical decisions. Just 25% leverage AI for shopping, and only 33% for email composition, underscoring lingering skepticism about reliability.

Why Younger Users Lean In

For digital natives, AI fills gaps left by evolving work and social landscapes. Sanaa Wilson, 28, a freelance data scientist, uses AI for coding assistance—saving "hundreds in training costs"—and brainstorming to replicate collaborative energy missing from remote work. Yet even she imposes limits:

"I stopped drafting emails with AI over environmental concerns and skill erosion fears. It’s just an email—I can type it myself," Wilson explained, reflecting tensions between convenience and self-reliance.

Companionship remains AI's least common use (under 20% overall), though 25% of under-30s experiment here—a nod to pandemic-driven social shifts. Wilson sympathizes: "People in my generation are leveraging it to fill voids."

Implications for Tech Development

The data signals both opportunity and friction for builders:
- Design for Trust Gaps: Older users’ reluctance suggests interfaces must better visualize accuracy and source attribution.
- Prioritize Vertical Solutions: Dominance of search over specialized tasks (e.g., 28% for image editing) reveals unmet needs in professional tooling.
- Sustainability as a Feature: Wilson’s environmental critique hints at demand for energy-efficient models.

As Thayer jokes about politeness toward chatbots—"I’ve watched movies, so I say ‘please’"—her wariness underscores that human-centric AI must balance utility with transparency. With younger users pioneering integration, their workflows may redefine productivity, but only if tools evolve beyond today’s limitations.

Source: AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll of 1,437 U.S. adults, conducted July 10-14, 2025. Margin of error ±3.6 points.