America’s receptiveness to AI

Respondents answered questions about their perceptions, usage, and support for AI, showing how demographics and region influence attitudes about AI adoption. This article reveals which U.S. states are most receptive to AI, and explores the prevailing attitudes and concerns surrounding its adoption.

AI adoption and trust

In short, the primary trend in AI adoption and trust is a positive perception amid privacy concerns and generational differences. Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming a part of everyday life, and our recent survey of over 3,000 Americans sheds light on the nation's perception and usage of this technology.

The survey reveals that 56% of respondents have generally positive perceptions of AI, with men being 17% more likely to share this sentiment than women. Additionally, 28% of people use AI daily, while only 5% say they never use it.

Confidence in AI's future impact is high

67% of respondents believe AI will positively affect society over the next 10 years. A significant 78% are willing to use AI in their homes, with Gen Z leading at 82%. Furthermore, 56% of respondents would opt for more AI usage daily, with 64% of men agreeing compared to 50% of women.

Job levels play a role in AI perceptions

Executives and middle management are likely having positive views on AI. Conversely, admin and support staff are the least likely to have positive perceptions. Regarding comfort levels, people are most comfortable with AI being used in customer service, while they are the least comfortable with AI being used in healthcare settings.

In the workplace, 81% of respondents are willing to use AI tools, although Baby Boomers are the least willing demographic. Interestingly, one in three respondents believe AI will create more jobs than it displaces in the future, with 45% of executives and senior management agreeing with this sentiment. However, 57% think AI will eventually replace most human jobs, with 61% of Gen Z agreeing, compared to 45% of Baby Boomers.

Trust in AI systems is a mixed bag

While 51% trust AI to make decisions without human intervention, a vast majority (95%) agree on the importance of regulations for AI usage. Privacy and security remain significant concerns, with 52% of respondents not trusting AI with access to sensitive personal data like health records or financial information. This highlights the respondent's reasons for hesitating to adopt AI: privacy and security concerns.

These insights paint a complex picture of AI receptiveness across the United States, reflecting optimism and caution among different demographics and job levels.

The Southeast is among the leading regions in AI acceptance

As part of our survey, we asked residents from each state to answer a series of questions regarding their sentiment around AI, using a scale from 1 to 10. The questions covered perceptions of AI's potential benefits, daily usage of AI-powered devices, openness to adopting new AI technologies, support for AI research and development, and the significance of AI to state economic growth. By averaging these scores, we ranked each state based on their overall receptivity to AI. These findings illustrate the varying degrees of AI receptiveness across the United States, highlighting both early adopters and those more hesitant to embrace this technology.

Maryland emerged as the most receptive state to AI, achieving an overall score of 34.7/50. Maryland residents have the highest positive perception of AI and its potential benefits, averaging 7.3/10. They also lead in daily usage of AI-powered devices and services, with a score of 6.5/10. Additionally, Marylanders believe strongly in AI’s significance to their state’s economic growth, rating it 6.8/10.

Mississippi follows closely, ranking second with a score of 32.9/50. Mississippi residents are particularly receptive to adopting new AI technologies as they become available, scoring 7.2/10. They also show the highest support for AI research, development, and innovation within their state, with a score of 7.2/10.

On the other end of the spectrum, Idaho is the least receptive state to AI, with a score of 24.6/50. Idahoans have the least positive perception of AI and its potential benefits, averaging 5.2/10. They also report the lowest frequency of AI usage in daily life, with a score of 4.8/10. Idaho ranks lowest in openness to adopting new AI technologies (5.3/10), support for AI research and development (5.1/10), and the perceived significance of AI to the state’s economic growth (4.2/10).

Ready to dive deeper into AI trends?

The landscape of AI adoption in the United States is complex, with differing levels of receptiveness across various states and demographics. Our survey highlights the optimism, concerns, and regional differences that shape how Americans perceive and use AI.

As AI continues to evolve and integrate into our lives, staying informed about its developments and impacts is critical. Are you curious to learn more about generative AI and other AI trends? Freshworks has more in-depth research and the latest trends around AI.

Methodology

This data survey is based on responses from over 3,200 survey participants in the U.S. We considered general perception, current usage, and willingness to adopt AI technologies to rank the states most receptive to AI. Each state was scored on a scale from 0 to 50, with 50 representing the highest level of receptiveness to AI. Due to insufficient survey responses, the following U.S. states and regions were not included in our ranking: Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, D.C., and Wyoming.