How many Americans are using AI—and how?

New Census Bureau data shows that 57 percent of Americans have used AI tools to search, brainstorm, complete work or school tasks, and more. Forty-two percent of respondents reported a productivity boost, though the responses also show concern with trust, data privacy, and career impact. Over half of US adults reported that someone in their household had used AI at least once in the past two months. The most common use was searching for information (35.1 percent of respondents). Smaller shares used it to brainstorm or generate ideas or as an assistant for work or school projects. Relatively few people said they’d used AI instead of hiring a human—just 4.5 percent of respondents, though that still equates to 12 million people.