Pew: 60% of Americans read AI summaries in search results

Jun 18, 2026 11:33 PM - 4 days ago 4610
Search AI transformation

AI is changing really Americans hunt for information. A caller Pew Research Center study recovered that 60% publication AI-generated summaries astatine the apical of hunt results, and astir 40% usage chatbots to find information.

AI-generated answers now look crossed some accepted hunt results and dedicated chatbot platforms, including devices for illustration ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot, Pew found.

AI summaries scope astir searchers. Six successful 10 U.S. adults said they’ve publication AI summaries astatine the apical of hunt results, Pew found. Three successful 10 said they haven’t.

  • Another 10% were unsure, suggesting immoderate users don’t intelligibly admit AI summaries successful hunt results.
  • Men were somewhat much apt than women to study reference them, 63% versus 57%. Adults 65 and older were the slightest apt property group to publication them.

Chatbots are hunt tools. About half of U.S. adults now usage AI chatbots, up from astir one-third successful 2024. Roughly 1 successful 4 adults usage them daily.

  • Searching for accusation was the astir communal chatbot usage Pew measured. About 40% of U.S. adults usage chatbots for search, up of entertainment, image and video creation, aesculapian advice, fittingness information, news, affectional support, and companionship.
  • Work was adjacent behind. Among employed adults, 38% said they usage chatbots for job-related tasks.

ChatGPT dominates. ChatGPT remains the astir wide utilized chatbot by a wide margin. Pew recovered that 44% of U.S. adults now usage ChatGPT, up from 34% past twelvemonth and much than double the stock measured successful 2023.

  • Gemini classed second, pinch astir a 4th of adults utilizing it. Copilot and Meta AI followed.
  • Grok, Claude, and Character.ai had overmuch smaller reach. About 1 successful 10 adults aliases less said they had utilized each tool.

Why we care. People now find accusation done accepted results, AI summaries, and chatbot answers. A accepted hunt ranking whitethorn not bespeak each spot group now find answers.

Dig deeper. AI hunt take rises arsenic user spot declines: Study

About the data. Pew Research Center surveyed 5,119 U.S. adults from Feb. 17-23, 2026, done its nationally typical American Trends Panel. The full-sample separator of correction was positive aliases minus 1.6 percent points.

The report. Americans and AI 2026: Chatbots, Smart Devices and Views connected Impact

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