# How AI use is spreading while trust trails Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/ai/how-ai-use-is-spreading-while-trust-trails/ Published: 2026-05-11 > Featured topic in AI & Tech. About 63% have used AI tools in the past month, while 50% disagree that tech companies can be trusted to develop AI responsibly. ## Overview: AI adoption and trust AI use is already broad, but the public is not treating adoption as the same thing as trust. About 63% of adults say they used AI tools in the past month. At the same time, 50% disagree that tech companies can be trusted to develop AI responsibly, and 60% say they are not confident regulators can keep up with AI rules. ## Recent AI use is common About 63% of adults say they have used AI tools in their work or personal life in the past month. Use is not equally routine, though. The largest frequency groups are split between a few times a week at 22% and never at 22%. ## ChatGPT and Google Gemini lead the tool set ChatGPT is the most recognized tool at 86%, with Google Gemini close behind at 80%. Recent use follows the same pattern. About 46% used ChatGPT in the last month, and 40% used Google Gemini. Planned use in a separate wave also starts with those two tools. ## Adoption does not mean institutional trust Trust is weaker than use. About 50% disagree that tech companies can be trusted to develop AI responsibly, compared with 24% who agree. Adults still want guardrails: 79% favor independent safety tests before powerful new models are released. Confidence in regulators is also limited. Roughly 60% are not very confident or not at all confident that regulators can keep pace with AI rules. ## Supporting evidence ### 63% have used AI tools in the past month. Question: Have you used artificial intelligence (AI) tools in your work or personal life at all in the past month? Note: Shows that recent AI use is already common. Topline: - Yes: 62.1% - No: 37.9% ### 86% have heard of ChatGPT, and 80% have heard of Google Gemini. Question: Which of the following AI tools have you heard of? Note: Shows ChatGPT and Google Gemini leading both awareness and recent use. Topline: - ChatGPT: 86.3% - Google Gemini: 76.6% - Microsoft Copilot: 60.1% - Grok: 35.7% - Deepseek: 26.1% ### 50% disagree that tech companies can be trusted on AI responsibility. Question: I trust tech companies to develop AI responsibly Note: Adds the clearest trust gap around tech-company responsibility. Topline: - Neutral: 27.1% - Somewhat disagree: 23.0% - Strongly disagree: 22.9% - Somewhat agree: 19.5% - Strongly agree: 7.5% ### 79% favor independent safety tests for powerful AI models. Question: Do you favor or oppose requiring AI developers to pass independent safety tests before releasing powerful new models to the public? Note: Pairs support for safety testing with lower confidence in regulator capacity. Topline: - Strongly favor: 52.6% - Somewhat favor: 26.3% - Not sure: 13.7% - Somewhat oppose: 5.0% - Strongly oppose: 2.5% ## Methodology - Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting - Population: United States adults - Field dates: 2025-09-03 → 2025-09-08 - Base (unweighted): 1,519 - Margin of error: +/- 3.3% - Module: AI Adoption Survey August 2025 - Sponsor: Verasight - Weight variable: weight - Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status ## Sources - [Have you used artificial intelligence (AI) tools in your work or personal life at all in the past month?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025#usage-of-ai-tools-in-the-past-month): reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025: Shows that recent AI use is already common. - [Roughly how often do you use AI tools?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025#frequency-of-ai-tool-usage): reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025: Adds frequency context, including the large group that never uses AI tools. - [Which of the following AI tools have you heard of?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025#awareness-of-ai-tools): reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025: Shows ChatGPT and Google Gemini leading both awareness and recent use. - [Which of the following AI tools have you used in the last month?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025#ai-tools-used-in-the-last-month): reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025: Shows ChatGPT and Google Gemini leading both awareness and recent use. - [Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following: - I trust tech companies to develop AI responsibly](https://reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025#sentiments-toward-ai): reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025: Adds the clearest trust gap around tech-company responsibility. - [Do you favor or oppose requiring AI developers to pass independent safety tests before releasing powerful new models to the public?](https://verasight-monthly-ai-july.tiiny.co): verasight-monthly-ai-july.tiiny.co: Pairs support for safety testing with lower confidence in regulator capacity. ## Citation AI Adoption Survey August 2025, fielded September 3-8, 2025, N=1,519 United States adults, +/- 3.3%. Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025#usage-of-ai-tools-in-the-past-month](https://reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025#usage-of-ai-tools-in-the-past-month)