Turning to AI when distressed remains unlikely
Core finding
In a Verasight survey of 1,519 U.S. adults conducted Sept. 3 to 8, 2025, 75% of Americans said they would be unlikely to consult an AI assistant before reaching out to a human if they felt significantly distressed. This includes 55% who said not at all likely and another 20% who said not very likely.
About one in five said they are at least somewhat likely to turn to AI first (18%), with 13% who said somewhat likely and another 5% who said very likely. Another 7% said they are not sure.
Topline scale
75% of Americans say they would not turn to AI when distressed.
If you felt significantly distressed tonight, how likely is it that you would consult an AI assistant before reaching out to a human?
n = 1,519 · Sep 3–8, 2025 · MoE ±3.3%
Methodology
Full 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 | Sep 3–8, 2025 |
| 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
- reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025
If you felt significantly distressed tonight, how likely is it that you would consult an AI assistant before reaching out to a human?
Cite this question
AI Adoption Survey August 2025, fielded September 3-8, 2025, N=1,519 United States adults, +/- 3.3%.