Young Americans Lead the AI Shift While Older Generations Hold Back

Americans are trying artificial intelligence, but they're doing it their own way. A new survey reveals that while 60% of adults use AI to search for information, the technology's promised workplace revolution remains mostly theoretical.

The generational split tells the real story. Among adults under 30, AI adoption jumps to 74% for information searching. These digital natives aren't just dabbling—they're integrating AI into daily routines at rates that would make tech executives weep with joy.

But here's what the survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research actually shows: Americans pick and choose how they use AI. They'll ask ChatGPT for meal ideas but skip it for medical advice. They'll use it for coding help but worry about losing their writing skills.

The numbers paint a picture of cautious experimentation rather than wholesale adoption. Only 40% use AI for work tasks or brainstorming, despite years of tech industry promises about productivity gains. About one-third use it for writing emails, creating images, or entertainment. Shopping assistance drops to 25%. AI companionship brings up the rear at 16%—though even that modest figure rises to 25% among young adults.

The Practical Adopters

Courtney Thayer embodies this selective approach. The 34-year-old audiologist from Des Moines uses ChatGPT to plan meals and calculate nutrition for her homemade pumpkin-banana-oat bread. She asked it to create a week's worth of meal prep, then requested an "Asian flair."

"It wasn't the most flavorful thing I've ever had in my life, but it's a nice stepping off point," Thayer said. "More importantly, I use it for the amount so that I'm not over-serving myself and ending up with wasted food."

At work, Thayer embraces AI for drafting professional emails and understanding the AI technology built into hearing aids she recommends. But she draws clear lines, avoiding AI for medical advice after watching chatbots "hallucinate" false information about topics she spent years studying.

Thayer does something curious when talking to ChatGPT. She says "please" and "thank you." She laughs about it, but there's a reason. She's seen enough movies about vengeful robots to hedge her bets.

The Skeptical Adopter

Sanaa Wilson represents a different approach to AI adoption. The 28-year-old Los Angeles data scientist uses AI heavily for coding, saving hundreds of dollars she would have spent on training. She occasionally taps it for work brainstorming, trying to recreate the collaborative experience she misses from college.

But Wilson skips Google's AI-generated search summaries for anything beyond basic questions. "It has to be a basic question like, 'What day does Christmas land on in 2025?'" she said. "But when it gets to specific news, related to what's happening in California or what's happening to the education system and stuff like that, I will scroll down a little bit further."

She also stopped using ChatGPT for email writing after learning about its environmental impact and worrying it might erode her thinking skills. "It's just an email. I can work it out," Wilson said. "However many minutes it takes, or seconds it takes, I can still type it myself."

The Age Divide Gets Specific

The survey reveals stark differences across age groups. About 60% of adults under 30 use AI for brainstorming, compared to just 20% of those 60 and older. Young adults are also more likely to use AI for ideas daily.

Daily usage patterns show the intensity gap. Among AI users under 30, 28% search for information several times daily, while another 11% do so about once daily. For idea generation, 22% use AI multiple times daily, with 13% using it once daily.

The companionship category, while small overall, shows how COVID-19 may have shaped young adults' relationship with technology. Wilson isn't interested in AI companions herself but understands why others her age might be. "I totally understand and sympathize behind why people in my age group are leveraging it in that way," she said, referencing the pandemic's impact on social experiences.

The Promise vs. Reality Gap

The survey exposes a disconnect between Silicon Valley promises and American reality. For more than a year, Google has automatically provided AI-generated responses at the top of search results. Yet many users, like Wilson, consciously skip these summaries for complex topics.

The work integration numbers particularly challenge tech industry narratives about AI transforming productivity. Despite massive investment and promotion, fewer than half of Americans use AI for work tasks. The brainstorming and idea generation applications, while popular among young adults, haven't penetrated older demographics.

People aren't following Silicon Valley's script. They try AI when it makes sense. They stick with what works. They drop what doesn't. It's messier than tech companies wanted, but more human than they expected.

The AP-NORC poll surveyed 1,437 adults between July 10-14, 2025. Researchers included extra young adults to get better data on their habits. The margin of error is 3.6 percentage points.

Why this matters:

• Americans are creating their own rules for AI use instead of following Silicon Valley's script, choosing practical applications over hyped promises.

• Today's age gap in AI comfort levels will reshape workplaces as younger employees expect different tools and workflows than their older colleagues.

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implicator.aiMarcus Schuler