Rutgers finds most Americans now use AI daily, but distrust its control

Rutgers researchers found that 72% of U.S. adults now report using at least one major AI tool, a substantial increase from 50% in November 2024. Despite this surging adoption, Americans maintain reservations about relinquishing critical decisions to artificial intelligence; fewer than one in ten would trust AI to make final, unsupervised choices regarding areas like hiring or medical priority.

“We adopt AI because it is useful, convenient, or expected of us,” says Katherine Ognyanova, a professor at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information and coauthor of the report. “At the same time, people are concerned about AI taking over high-stakes tasks.” This growing disconnect between usage and trust signals a complex relationship with a technology rapidly becoming integrated into daily life and the American workplace.

AI Use Surges: 72% of Americans Now Utilize AI Tools

The increasing prevalence of AI tools is reshaping daily routines for a majority of U.S. adults; 27% now report daily engagement with at least one major AI application. This figure underscores a rapid shift in adoption rates, as only 50% of adults indicated AI use in November 2024, demonstrating a significant acceleration in integration within a short timeframe. Despite this widespread use, a clear hesitancy remains regarding autonomous decision-making by artificial intelligence systems.

The survey revealed that fewer than one in ten Americans would fully trust AI to independently manage critical life areas, including hiring processes, loan applications, or prioritization of medical care. “People seem to draw the line at letting AI make unsupervised decisions that significantly affect human lives,” explains Katherine Ognyanova, highlighting a boundary in public acceptance. Concerns about AI’s role in high-stakes scenarios do not necessarily translate into blanket distrust, however.

Thirty-four percent of respondents indicated willingness to allow AI to assist with hiring, provided a human retained final authority, and a similar proportion (26%) extended this conditional acceptance to parole decisions. This suggests a preference for collaborative models where AI augments, rather than replaces, human judgment. The data also reveals a strong desire for transparency; 76% of Americans believe employers should disclose when AI is used to evaluate workers or applicants, and similar majorities expect disclosure from companies evaluating customers and schools assessing students.

Fewer than 6% disagreed with any of these disclosure requirements. A notable partisan shift in attitudes also emerged from the National AI Opinion Monitor data. “One surprising finding is the partisan reversal on AI,” Ognyanova noted, as Democrats and Republicans have switched positions regarding confidence in the technology. While overall confidence remains relatively stable, the groups now diverge in their views.

Currently, 62% of Democrats and 57% of Republicans still want AI strictly regulated due to its potential risks, a shared preference despite broader political divides. “Use appears to increase confidence considerably faster than it increases knowledge,” Ognyanova added, suggesting that familiarity with AI tools does not necessarily equate to a deeper understanding of their implications.

AI Decision-Making: Limits to Trust in High-Stakes Applications

Twenty-seven percent of U.S. adults report using AI, while between 45% and 54% believe AI should not be used at all in these high-stakes scenarios, demonstrating a clear preference for human oversight. This hesitancy isn’t necessarily a rejection of AI’s utility, but rather a concern about relinquishing control over significant life outcomes.

The survey revealed a willingness to accept AI assistance; 34% would allow it to aid in hiring, and 26% in parole decisions, but not to fully delegate authority. Concern about the technology itself remains prevalent, with half of Americans expressing worry, and the proportion feeling angry with AI rose from 19% in late 2024 to 30% by August 2026, even among frequent users.

Shifting Partisan Views & Knowledge Gaps in AI Understanding

Recent data reveals a notable reversal in partisan attitudes toward artificial intelligence; in late 2024, Democrats expressed greater confidence in AI’s public benefit (56%) than Republicans (45%), but by August 2026 those figures had nearly flipped, with 56% of Republicans and 44% of Democrats voicing confidence. Despite this shift, overall public confidence in AI remained stable at 46%, suggesting a realignment of perspectives rather than a widespread change in trust.

The Rutgers-led survey also highlighted a disconnect between AI usage and genuine understanding of the technology; 59% of Americans claim to grasp the basics of how AI functions, a rise from 50% in late 2024, yet the average score on a basic AI knowledge quiz was only 48% correct. Even among daily AI users, 82% reported understanding the fundamentals, but achieved an average score of just 49% on the assessment.

This gap in knowledge is particularly striking given the increasing integration of AI into professional life; 31% of employed adults now report their jobs require AI use, indicating a fundamental shift in workplace demands. Researchers surveyed 5,154 U.S. adults between July 5 and August 1, 2026, employing a methodology designed to ensure representativeness across key demographic factors. The study’s findings underscore the need for improved AI literacy alongside its continued adoption, as well as a nuanced understanding of how partisan beliefs shape public perception of the technology’s potential and risks.

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