# A third of Americans view AI-as-therapist users negatively

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/ai/a-third-of-americans-view-ai-as-therapist-users-negatively/

> Indexed question in AI & Tech.

## Reading

In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted May 11, 2026, 35% of Americans said they view people who use AI as a therapist or mentor negatively, with 20% who said somewhat negative and 15% who said extremely negative.

Just one in ten said they view those users positively (10%), with 6% who said somewhat positive and 4% who said extremely positive. More than half (55%) said they feel neither negative nor positive.

## Topline

How do you view people who use AI as a therapist or mentor?

35% of Americans view AI-as-therapist users negatively; 10% view them positively.

Net findings combine adjacent response options from the same scale.

- Neither negative nor positive: 54.5%
- Somewhat negative: 20.0%
- Extremely negative: 15.4%
- Somewhat positive: 6.3%
- Extremely positive: 3.8%

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: US adults age 18+
- Field dates: 2026-05-11 → 2026-05-11
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.3%
- Module: beliefs
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26#q-1.35](https://reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26#q-1.35)

## Citation

Verasight SPSP Omnibus Survey #2026-045, fielded May 11-11, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26#q-1.35](https://reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26#q-1.35)