Few feel highly confident judging AI for accuracy
Core finding
In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted August 13 to 18, 2026, 9.4% feel very confident judging whether an AI answer should be trusted. Another 54.6% feel only slightly confident or not at all confident.
AI is nevertheless useful in daily life for 64.7%, who find it at least somewhat helpful personally or professionally. The survey reports these views separately and does not establish how often they overlap.
High confidence is uncommon
Very confident responses account for 9.4%, compared with 36.1% who are moderately confident.
Another 39.2% are slightly confident and 15.3% not at all confident. This measures confidence in evaluating an AI answer, not performance on an accuracy test.
Topline
9.4% are very confident judging whether an AI answer should be trusted; 39.2% are slightly confident and 15.3% are not at all confident.
n = 1,000 · Aug 13–18, 2026 · MoE ±3.2%
AI still helps with everyday tasks
AI is somewhat helpful for 40.0%, very helpful for 14.9% and extremely helpful for 9.8%, totaling 64.7%. The question includes personal and professional uses.
On innovation, 41.6% say AI empowers it, 29.2% say it hinders it and 29.3% are unsure. These views do not measure AI’s actual effect on innovation.
Topline
64.7% find AI at least somewhat helpful personally or professionally, including 40.0% somewhat, 14.9% very and 9.8% extremely helpful.
n = 1,000 · Aug 13–18, 2026 · MoE ±3.2%
Topline
41.6% of Americans say AI empowers innovation, compared with 29.2% who say it hinders innovation; 29.3% are unsure.
n = 1,000 · Aug 13–18, 2026 · MoE ±3.2%
Doctors make AI-assisted diagnosis more acceptable
For medical diagnoses, 53.7% would be comfortable with a doctor working without AI, and 46.8% with a doctor using AI for support. Respondents could select multiple acceptable scenarios, so the answers overlap.
Only 2.0% would be comfortable with AI diagnosing without human involvement. A joint diagnosis by a doctor and AI draws 25.1%, while 14.5% would be comfortable with AI diagnosing subject to a doctor’s review and approval. These are views among all adults.
Topline
46.8% would be comfortable with a doctor using AI to support a diagnosis, compared with 2.0% for AI making a diagnosis without human involvement.
n = 1,000 · Aug 13–18, 2026 · MoE ±3.2%
Methodology
Full 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 | Aug 13–18, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.2% |
| Module | Verasight JSM and Quirk's Omnibus Survey |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/jsm-quirks-2026
How confident are you that you can judge whether an answer from an AI tool should be trusted?
- reports.verasight.io/r/jsm-quirks-2026
How helpful is AI in your everyday life either personally or professionally?
- reports.verasight.io/r/jsm-quirks-2026
Do you think that AI is empowering innovation or hindering it?
- reports.verasight.io/r/jsm-quirks-2026
Please select all of those with which you would be comfortable
Cite this topic
JSM and Quirk's Omnibus Survey, fielded August 13-18, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.2%.