For many users, AI chatbots don't change their sense of social connection
Core finding
Nearly half of U.S. adults (47%) say interacting with an AI chatbot has made no change in their sense of social connection, according to a Verasight survey fielded May 11, 2026.
More Americans say chatbots have worsened their sense of social connection than improved it: 16% say the effect has been slightly or much worse, including 5% who say much worse, while 10% say it has been slightly or much better, including 4% who say much better. The remaining quarter of adults (26%) have never interacted with an AI chatbot.
Topline distribution
For many users, AI chatbots don't change their sense of social connection.
How has interacting with AI chatbot affected your sense of social connection?
n = 504 · May 11, 2026 · MoE ±4.6%
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 | May 11, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 504 |
| Margin of error | ±4.6% |
| Module | beliefs |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26
How has interacting with AI chatbot affected your sense of social connection?
Cite this question
Verasight SPSP Omnibus Survey #2026-045, fielded May 11-11, 2026, N=504 US adults age 18+, +/- 4.6%.