51% of US Adults Avoid AI Chatbots Due to Low Interest, Pew Data Shows

Pew Research Center data reveals that 51 percent of US adults are non-users of artificial intelligence chatbots, making users a minority demographic. The survey indicates that this refusal to engage is driven primarily by a simple lack of interest, rather than technical barriers or social stigma. For security and IT teams monitoring user behavior, this suggests a significant portion of the workforce may not interact with these tools.

The risk

The survey asked non-users to select from five potential reasons for their abstention. Six in ten respondents identified a lack of interest as a major factor. Data privacy concerns and the accuracy of chatbot answers followed as secondary deterrents. Fewer than one-third of those surveyed cited not knowing how to use the technology as a major reason, countering assumptions that technical illiteracy is the primary hurdle. Social stigma was also a minor factor, with fewer than one in five worrying about others' opinions.

Who is exposed

Adoption rates vary significantly by age group, according to Pew Research Center findings. Roughly three-quarters of adults aged 65 and older say they never use chatbots. Among adults aged 50 to 64, 58 percent are non-users. Even among the youngest demographic, adults aged 18 to 29, who show the highest usage at 66 percent, a full third report never using the tools. About four in ten adults under the age of 50 report not using chatbots at all.

Cost and compliance

Racial and ethnic differences in adoption were also noted in the survey data. Non-users were more likely to be white, Black, or Hispanic compared to Asian adults, according to Pew’s survey results. The study did not specify direct financial costs or regulatory compliance impacts associated with this usage gap, but the demographic skew may influence enterprise deployment strategies and internal training requirements for security teams.

What should you do?

Security managers should assess internal usage patterns to determine if critical workflows rely on AI tools that a significant portion of staff refuses to use. Understanding that lack of interest drives non-adoption, rather than fear, can help tailor communication strategies. Teams should also monitor for unauthorized or shadow IT usage among the minority who do engage with these platforms.

What to do and how to stay safe: AI chatbots

• Audit internal logs to identify which employees are accessing AI chatbots, even if unofficially.
• Review data handling policies to ensure sensitive information is not entered into public AI models by the minority of users who do engage.
• Develop training materials that address practical utility and interest rather than just technical "how-to" guides for non-users.
• Monitor for phishing attempts that might exploit the gap between tech-savvy users and those who lack interest or familiarity.

Step-by-step guide: Mobile Security Architecture: 8 Practices for Device Integrity

General security guidance from the Vector Tribune newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.

Frequently asked questions

Why do US adults refuse to use AI chatbots?

According to Pew Research Center, the primary reason is a lack of interest, cited by six in ten non-users, rather than technical difficulty or social stigma.

Which age group uses chatbots the most?

Adults aged 18 to 29 have the highest usage rate at 66 percent, though a third of this group still reports never using them.

Are non-users likely to start using chatbots soon?

No, 67 percent of non-users say they are unlikely to use the technology in the next 12 months, with 40 percent not at all likely to change their mind.