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The research paints a picture of uneven AI adoption across American society, with significant gaps between personal and professional use, and wide disparities based on demographic factors.
"The survey results lend themselves to three main conclusions: One, AI use is remarkably consistent across firm size. Two, while personal use is common, professional AI use is far from ubiquitous and many respondents expressed skepticism that it would be as revolutionary as some experts expect. And three, there are important differences across AI use by demographics, including increased use among those with higher education and lower usage for retirement-age respondents," the researchers wrote.
Fifty-seven percent of respondents reported using generative AI for at least one personal purpose, with internet searches and web browsing the most common applications. In contrast, only 21% use the technology in their professional roles, the survey found.
The research, conducted in late June through the AmeriSpeak panel at the University of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center, surveyed 1,163 adults and revealed stark disparities in workplace AI adoption based on educational attainment.
The education divide proved particularly pronounced in professional settings. Among workers with bachelor's degrees or higher, 33% currently use AI tools professionally, compared to 20% of those with some college or an associate's degree, 12% of high school graduates, and just 5% of individuals without high school diplomas.
"This adoption rate follows a clear education gradient," the authors noted.
