Many People Are Sick of AI but Already Severely Addicted
The penetration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is increasingly deepening in human daily life. According to a new research report from the firm Pew Research, US citizens are reported to be increasingly aggressive and ‘crazy’ in adopting AI chatbot technology. The surge is extreme. Nearly half, or 49%, of adults in the United States admit to having actively used AI chatbots. This dependency figure has soared compared to 2024 data, which was ‘only’ at 33%. This addiction phenomenon is further exacerbated by the integration of AI into the domestic sphere. From smart speakers and smart doorbells to AI-based temperature control systems, daily life is now confined within a digital ecosystem.
Delving deeper into chatbot AI usage, the Pew Research study shows the majority of US citizens rely on this technology to hunt for various information (42%). In addition, 38% of respondents use it to complete professional tasks related to their work. It does not stop there; AI has also expanded into entertainment (25%), creating or editing photo and video content (24%), and obtaining medical and health recommendations (20%). Even diet and fitness guidance is now delegated to artificial intelligence (20%). Sadly, not a few humans are beginning to lose social interaction and are turning to AI as a crutch. The report reveals a shocking fact: 1 in 10 respondents in the US brazenly uses AI chatbots to obtain emotional support and as a friend to confide in. This level of addiction is increasingly worrying, with 24% of respondents claiming they must use AI chatbots every day, and 4% of them are bound to it non-stop at all times.
Regarding the dominant platforms, OpenAI’s ChatGPT still leads the global competitive map with a market share reaching 44% this year, surging from 34% two years ago. Following in sequence are other tech giants like Gemini (24%), Copilot (17%), Meta AI (14%), Grok (8%), Claude (6%), and Character.ai (3%). Demographically, the productive age group under 50 is the most addicted cluster, with penetration reaching 57% compared to 28% for the age group over 50.
Strangely, although global society now appears powerless and trapped in AI chatbot addiction, they are actually very aware of the great threats lurking behind this technology. As many as 40% of respondents bluntly predict that the AI explosion will bring a negative impact on the social order. Conversely, only 16% of people remain optimistic that AI will bring blessings or a positive impact. Even on a personal level, 31% of individuals believe the presence of AI will bring disaster to their personal lives, compared to 23% who see direct benefits. This wave of uncontrolled adoption triggers mass anxiety. 63% of respondents assess that the current pace of AI development is moving too fast and is terrifying. Only 2% consider it slow, while 19% feel the intensity is still within reasonable limits. Ironically, amidst the siege of cyber threats, disinformation, and the potential job apocalypse, the public is pessimistic about regulatory firmness. 67% of US adults doubt the government’s ability to formulate effective AI regulations—a figure that has swelled from 62% in 2024. Similarly, 6 out of 10 respondents also admit they are very sceptical that Big Tech corporations, as AI developers, have the moral commitment to create responsible and ethical products. Humanity now seems to be at a crossroads: aware of being colonised, yet too paralysed and powerless to face the addiction to AI.