Use of AI to Get News in U.S. Is Rare

Only 7% of U.S. adults rely on AI tools for news, with 57% not using them at all, according to a Gallup survey. AI ranks last among news sources, and 39% say AI use in reporting would reduce their trust outright. Younger adults are slightly more likely to use AI but also more distrustful of AI-assisted news.

Story Highlights 7% say they rely on AI tools when getting news and information AI ranks at the bottom of sources from which Americans get most news Many Americans distrust AI-assisted news reporting outright WASHINGTON, D.C. — Seven percent of Americans say they rely “a great deal” 2% or “a fair amount” 5% on artificial intelligence tools when getting news and information. Another 12% say they rely on AI “some” for news, and 23% say “only a little.” The majority of U.S. adults 57% don’t rely on AI tools at all for this purpose. Reliance on AI tools to get news and information is slightly more common among adults aged 18 to 49 10% than among those aged 50 and older 3% , but majorities of both age groups say they don’t rely on AI at all when getting news. These results are based on a May 4-17 survey of 2,062 U.S. adults who are members of the Gallup Panel. AI Ranks Last as a Source of Information About News Events A separate question places AI at the bottom of the list of people’s primary sources of information about community, national and international events. Just 2% of Americans say AI chatbots or assistants are one of their top three news or information sources, matching the percentage who report using a messaging app for news 2% . All key subgroups of U.S. adults report very low rates of AI as a primary news source. AI is less likely to be selected as a news source than print newspapers or magazines 8% , podcasts 13% , search engines 16% , and radio 17% . The most common way Americans say they have gotten their news in the past seven days is from social media 54% , followed by news websites or apps 44% . However, large segments still rely on traditional outlets: 28% mostly use network TV news, and 20% use cable news. Additionally, 25% cite friends, family or coworkers as their main source of news. Many Americans Distrust AI-Assisted News Reporting Outright Though few Americans use AI tools as a news source, many in the media industry have begun exploring or even employing AI to create news reports, though policies vary widely by publication. When asked what could be done to increase trust when news organizations disclose the use of AI to produce news content, about one in five Americans say that it would increase their trust if the news consumers could verify the information themselves with a different source 22% or if the news organization said that a human editor had verified the information 20% . About one in 10 each say it would increase their trust if a human journalist reported the facts 11% or if it was clearly disclosed that AI was used 7% . Meanwhile, a plurality of U.S. adults 39% say that the use of AI would reduce their trust in the information outright, implying there is nothing a news organization can do to garner public trust in AI-assisted reporting. Though younger adults are more likely than older adults to use AI as a news source, the percentage who say AI use in news reporting would altogether reduce their trust in the information is higher among 18- to 49-year-olds 43% than among those aged 50 and older 34% . Despite some variations, pluralities of all major U.S. subgroups say AI use in news would reduce their trust in the information. Bottom Line AI use at work in the U.S. was relatively low when Gallup first measured it in 2023 https://www.gallup.com/699797/indicator-artificial-intelligence.aspx , but it has increased rapidly since then. The speed at which Americans have woven AI into daily life suggests it could become a fixture in their news consumption as well — perhaps aided by a media industry seeking to cater to AI-adoption habits Americans have formed elsewhere. But for now, AI use in news consumption is scarce. At the same time, these findings offer no clear path for news agencies looking to use AI in their reporting while maintaining public trust. Many Americans emphasize the importance of verification of some kind in AI-driven news content, while others emphasize disclosure. But four in 10 say their trust in the news would suffer from any use of AI in reporting, creating a challenge for the news industry as it looks to remain competitive in a rapidly changing landscape while simultaneously trying to rebuild trust in the institution https://news.gallup.com/poll/695762/trust-media-new-low.aspx after a decades-long decline. Stay up to date with the latest insights by following @Gallup on X and on Instagram . Learn more about how the Gallup Panel works.