About half of U.S. adults—51 percent—say they never use AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in February 2026.
Among these non-users, lack of interest stands out as the leading barrier. Six in ten cite it as a major reason they avoid the tools, while 23 percent call it a minor factor, for a combined 83 percent. Concerns about personal data follow closely: 54 percent name privacy worries as a major reason, and another 24 percent say it is a minor one. Distrust in accuracy ranks third, with 45 percent viewing it as a major obstacle and 30 percent as a minor one.
Other factors play smaller roles. Just under three in ten non-users point to not knowing how to use chatbots as a major reason, and only 3 percent cite fear of social judgment as a major concern. Overall, most non-users show little urgency to change course. Roughly two-thirds say they are unlikely to try a chatbot in the next year, including a large share who describe themselves as not at all likely to start.
Non-use also varies by age. Roughly three-quarters of adults 65 and older report never using chatbots, compared with about a third of those ages 18 to 29. The pattern underscores that, even as chatbot adoption has risen overall—from roughly a third of adults in 2024 to nearly half in 2026—a substantial share of the public remains uninterested or wary.
Non-use also varies by age. Roughly three-quarters of adults 65 and older report never using chatbots, compared with about a third of those ages 18 to 29. The pattern underscores that, even as chatbot adoption has risen overall—from roughly a third of adults in 2024 to nearly half in 2026—a substantial share of the public remains uninterested or wary.