--- title: "Why Americans use AI chatbots for health" description: "Internet, Science & Tech A monthly digest of the Center’s latest research on how the internet, science and technology are impacting society · Subscribe ↗ Media mentions AI optimism fades among young adults Axios Most young Americans are more concerned about AI than excited, Pew survey finds Forbes Americans want to know when their healthcare […]" date: "2026-08-27" authors: - name: "Sara Atske" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/newsletter/internet-science-and-tech/why-americans-use-ai-chatbots-for-health/" --- # Why Americans use AI chatbots for health --- August 27, 2026 ## Internet, Science & Tech *A monthly digest of the Center's latest research on how the internet, science and technology are impacting society* · **[Subscribe ↗](https://pewresearch.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=434f5d1199912232d416897e4&id=3e953b9b70)** --- Related: [**Americans want transparency when AI is used in their healthcare**](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/08/25/americans-want-transparency-when-ai-is-used-in-their-healthcare/) [ ](https://www.pewresearch.org/data-labs/2026/08/20/how-much-of-the-internet-is-written-with-ai/) ## [How much of the internet is written with AI?](https://www.pewresearch.org/data-labs/2026/08/20/how-much-of-the-internet-is-written-with-ai/) In a random sample of 10,000 webpages collected in July 2026, one-in-ten show signs of being [written or substantially edited by AI](https://www.pewresearch.org/data-labs/2026/08/20/how-much-of-the-internet-is-written-with-ai/). This is part of an upward trend that began in late 2022, when ChatGPT was first released. [ ](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/08/18/young-adults-in-the-us-are-increasingly-wary-of-ai-concerned-it-will-take-jobs/) ## [Young adults in the U.S. are increasingly wary of AI, concerned it will take jobs](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/08/18/young-adults-in-the-us-are-increasingly-wary-of-ai-concerned-it-will-take-jobs/) About half of Americans [say they’re more concerned than excited](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/08/18/young-adults-in-the-us-are-increasingly-wary-of-ai-concerned-it-will-take-jobs/) about the increased use of AI in daily life, and young adults’ concern is rising. [ ](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/08/13/americans-use-of-social-media-for-health-information-differs-by-race-and-ethnicity/) ## [Americans’ use of social media for health information differs by race and ethnicity](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/08/13/americans-use-of-social-media-for-health-information-differs-by-race-and-ethnicity/) Hispanic, Black and Asian adults are more likely than White adults to [get health information from social media](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/08/13/americans-use-of-social-media-for-health-information-differs-by-race-and-ethnicity/) and from health and wellness influencers. [ ](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/08/26/fewer-americans-use-cash-today-than-a-decade-ago-but-many-still-carry-it/) ## [Fewer Americans use cash today than a decade ago, but many still carry it](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/08/26/fewer-americans-use-cash-today-than-a-decade-ago-but-many-still-carry-it/) Today, 42% of U.S. adults [say they don’t use cash](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/08/26/fewer-americans-use-cash-today-than-a-decade-ago-but-many-still-carry-it/) for any purchases in a typical week. This is up from 24% in 2015 and is especially true among higher-income Americans. Still, 46% of Americans say they carry cash on them at least most of the time. #### Media mentions [AI optimism fades among young adults](https://www.axios.com/2026/08/18/young-adults-ai-job-loss) Axios [Most young Americans are more concerned about AI than excited, Pew survey finds](https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2026/08/18/most-young-americans-are-more-concerned-about-ai-than-excited-pew-survey-finds/) Forbes [Americans want to know when their healthcare providers use AI](https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/americans-want-to-know-when-their-healthcare-providers-use-ai/) CNET [A third of web pages published since ChatGPT launched were written by AI, study finds](https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/20/a-third-of-webpages-published-since-chatgpts-launch-show-signs-of-ai-authorship-study-finds/) TechCrunch #### From our research [12%](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/08/26/fewer-americans-use-cash-today-than-a-decade-ago-but-many-still-carry-it/) The share of Americans who [say they use cash](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/08/26/fewer-americans-use-cash-today-than-a-decade-ago-but-many-still-carry-it/) to pay for all or almost all of their purchases in a typical week.