Pew Research Center · 17 Jun, 07:00 · Technology briefing

Americans and AI 2026: Chatbots, Smart Devices and Views on Impact

Pew Research Centre’s 2026 report examines American attitudes towards artificial intelligence, chatbots, and smart devices.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

30%premium for professionals who pair domain skills with tech fluency

3.5xfaster skill turnover — staying current is the moat

74%of employers fund staff who self-start upskilling

20days to your first credential

The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Pew Research Centre’s 2026 report examines American attitudes towards artificial intelligence, chatbots, and smart devices. The study details current usage patterns and public perceptions regarding AI’s societal and economic impact. It provides a factual overview of how individuals integrate these technologies into daily life and work. For professionals, this data highlights the growing normalisation of AI tools while revealing persistent concerns about their broader implications. The findings offer a clear snapshot of the evolving digital landscape, helping leaders understand the shifting baseline of public and professional engagement with automated systems in the near future.

Employer demand for AI Strategy skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This shift demands that you move beyond basic literacy to strategic application. As AI becomes ubiquitous, your value lies in managing human-AI collaboration, not competing with algorithms. Prioritise skills in ethical oversight, critical thinking, and change management. You must understand the data behind AI decisions to maintain credibility. Professionals in customer-facing or creative roles should focus on leveraging AI for efficiency while preserving unique human judgment. Start by auditing your current workflow for automation opportunities. Then, develop a personal strategy for continuous learning. Embrace tools that enhance productivity but retain final decision-making authority. This proactive approach ensures you remain indispensable as technology evolves.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are AI Strategy, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Leadership — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.