Only one in six American workers uses artificial intelligence on the job, and those who do are far more likely to hold a college degree, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. The nationally representative poll of more than 5,200 U.S. employees found that 63% say they use AI little or not at all in their daily tasks, while a mere 16% report using the technology for at least part of their work. The remaining respondents said they were unaware of AI being used in their workplaces at all.
The survey, conducted by the nonpartisan research organization, paints a picture of AI adoption that is sharply skewed by education and age. Among those who said they use AI, just over half hold a bachelor’s degree, and an additional 22% have a postgraduate degree. By contrast, only 39% of non-users have a bachelor’s degree or higher. AI users also tended to be younger and more likely to work in roles involving data processing, Pew reported.
While it may seem counterintuitive that highly educated professionals would embrace a technology known for generating false information and struggling with complex coding tasks, the survey’s breakdown of how workers use AI offers some clarity. The most common workplace applications are research and information gathering, cited by 57% of regular users. Editing written content follows at 52%, and drafting text is a close third at 47%. Forty percent use AI to summarize information or meetings, while 35% rely on it for brainstorming. About a fifth (21%) use AI for image or video generation.
Notably, 27% of frequent users said they employ AI to analyze data or write code—a use case that has become increasingly contentious. OpenAI has acknowledged that even its most advanced models fail to solve the majority of software engineering problems they are given, underscoring persistent technical limitations. This is particularly concerning given that younger coders are increasingly dependent on AI tools, which could weaken their grasp of fundamental programming concepts.
Workers Express Mixed Emotions About AI
The Pew survey also reveals significant unease about AI’s future role in the workplace. More than half of employed respondents said they feel more worried than hopeful about AI’s growing presence, while fewer than a third described themselves as “excited” about using the technology. This anxiety is not unfounded, as tech industry leaders have repeatedly warned that AI could eventually displace jobs.
Although the survey does not specify which careers or chatbot platforms respondents use, the heavy reliance on AI for writing and coding tasks raises questions about the quality of work and the potential for skill erosion. The findings suggest that while AI adoption is still limited, it is concentrated among a demographic that is better positioned to adapt to technological change—yet even they harbor doubts about its long-term impact.
