In a striking reflection of how swiftly technology is reshaping daily life, a recent national survey by Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center reveals that half of American adults are now using artificial intelligence (AI) large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot. Conducted in January 2025, the survey highlights one of the fastest technology adoption rates in U.S. history since the launch of ChatGPT on November 30, 2022.
Diverse User Base Across Demographics
The survey uncovered a diverse landscape of LLM users across the United States. While younger, well-educated, and relatively wealthy individuals are somewhat more likely to use AI tools, usage rates are surprisingly high among various other groups. Notably, 53% of individuals from households earning less than $50,000 reported using LLMs. Moreover, Hispanic adults (66%) and Black adults (57%) were more likely to use LLMs than White adults (47%).
“This rapid integration of AI tools across all social and economic demographics is reshaping how Americans learn, work, and engage with information,” the study noted.
ChatGPT Leads the AI Landscape
Among the various AI tools, OpenAI’s ChatGPT dominates, with 72% of LLM users saying they have used it. Other popular tools include Google’s Gemini (50%), Microsoft’s Copilot (39%), Meta’s LLaMa (20%), xAI’s Grok (12%), and Anthropic’s Claude (9%).
How and Why Americans Use AI Tools
A significant portion of LLM users—34%—engage with these tools daily, with 10% using them “almost constantly.” Another 18% use LLMs several times a week. The primary reasons for use are personal rather than professional, with 51% citing informal personal learning as their main activity. About 24% use AI for work, and 11% for school purposes.
In terms of specific activities:
• Informal Learning: 68% have used LLMs to learn on their own.
• Entertainment: 60% have used them for amusement.
• Work-Related Tasks: 52% have employed AI tools for work activities.
LLMs are commonly used as search engines (by two-thirds of users), for brainstorming ideas, summarizing documents, planning trips, writing computer code, and even organizing social gatherings. Interestingly, 23% have used LLMs to find information about people they know, and 18% have looked up what the AI says about themselves.
Human-Like Interactions with AI
A notable share of users report having human-like interactions with AI tools:
• Conversational Engagement: 65% have engaged in spoken conversations with LLMs, including 34% who do so multiple times weekly.
• Emotional Impact: 25% say AI tools cheer them up, and 22% believe their primary LLM expresses empathy.
• Social Companionship: 9% use LLMs for social interactions like casual conversations, while 7% feel the AI responds in a jealous manner.
Moreover, 38% believe that within the next decade, LLMs could form deep relationships with humans.
Perceived Intelligence and Attributes of LLMs
Nearly half (49%) of users believe their LLM is smarter than they are, with 26% saying the AI is “a lot smarter.” Users also attribute several human-like characteristics to these models:
• Confidence: 57% say their AI model appears confident.
• Reasoning Ability: 39% believe their LLM demonstrates reasoning skills.
• Sense of Humor: 32% think their AI has a sense of humor.
• Moral Judgment: 25% feel the AI makes moral judgments.
• Emotional Expression: 24% say their LLM expresses hope, while 11% say it displays sadness.
Impact on Productivity and Learning
Overall, 75% of users are satisfied with LLM performance, including 25% who are “very satisfied.” The survey highlighted several benefits:
• Productivity Boost: 54% feel LLMs have improved their productivity.
• Learning Enhancement: 50% say LLMs have helped them learn new skills.
• Creative Growth: 42% report enhanced creativity thanks to AI tools.
However, the survey also revealed some concerns. Half of the users admitted feeling lazy while using AI, 35% felt they were “cheating,” and 33% worried about becoming too dependent on AI for answers. Alarmingly, 23% said they made significant mistakes by relying on AI-generated information.
Mixed Feelings About the Future of AI
Looking ahead, Americans hold mixed views about how LLMs will shape society:
• Positive Expectations:
• 62% believe AI will drive major scientific and medical breakthroughs.
• 55% think LLMs will remain under human control and responsive to human needs.
• Concerns About Negative Impacts:
• 63% fear AI will increase social isolation.
• 59% predict significant job losses due to AI adoption.
• 53% believe AI will surpass human intelligence.
• 45% worry about serious social upheaval.
• 40% believe AI will develop its own identity and goals.
In terms of daily life, 43% expect AI will change how they spend their leisure time, and 40% believe it will alter their work life.
Groundbreaking Insights on AI Usage
The survey, conducted from January 21-23, 2025, among 500 adults from the national SSRS Opinion Panel, represents one of the first comprehensive, nationally representative studies on LLM usage. With a margin of error of +/- 5.1 percentage points, it offers a revealing snapshot of how AI is reshaping American life.
“AI is no longer just a futuristic concept but a daily reality for millions of Americans,” the report concluded. “How society adapts to this change will define the next decade of technological evolution.”
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