WASHINGTON DC. WA, September 24, 2026 — Chatbots are long gone from writing emails and trivia questions. A large chunk of Americans now weighed down by something much more personal are finding them in a new national survey summarized by the National Science Foundation. One out of every ten adults says they use AI chatbots for help or moral support.
What the Numbers Show
The Pew Research Center survey of more than 5,100 U.S. adults in February found search and workplace tasks continued to be the most popular uses for chatbots as jobs. Forty-two percent turn to chatbots for seeking information, and 38 percent of working adults use services for work. In contrast, emotional support came in way behind at 10%, but it’s by no means insignificant.
Findings from the Pew data show that younger adults account for the behavior much more than older generations. Twenty percent of adults under 30 have used a chatbot for emotional support or advice, while only 2 percent of adults aged 65 and older have done so. Use for companionship is also more common, but still rare—four percent.
A Gender Gap Worth Noting
For researching, work, and entertainment, men use chatbots overall more than women freelancers. However, women are more likely than men to report that they use chatbots for emotional support or advice. The lack of a meaningful gender difference in companionship use suggests that the emotional-support gap is pointing to something less general.
Use of a chatbot for medical advice is significantly more common than emotional support, with one in five adults saying that they have asked it about a health issue. And that number goes up even more when looking at adults under 50. Taken together, they imply Americans are increasingly viewing chatbots as a first port of call on personal—rather than merely practical—issues.
Why Experts Are Watching Closely
Researchers in mental health say the one-in-ten number is significant even though it still lags behind other chatbot applications. This shows people who are using an AI instead of a human are grappling with real stress from relationships or personal decisions. With about half (some estimate it closer to a third) of American adults currently using chatbots on the regular, that means millions of conversations.
Some of this skepticism about AI lingers with even avid users. Surveyed adults said they believe AI is advancing too rapidly, and a majority say they’re concerned it threatens personal data. That duality—intense usage coupled with profound anxiety—has come to define Americans’ relationship, at least for now, with technology.
What It Means Going Forward
With the ever-growing presence of chatbot technology in our daily lives, researchers believe the trend towards emotional-support assistants merits ongoing monitoring. Studies funded through the National Institutes of Health continue to examine whether increased reliance on digital tools stems from gaps in traditional care access or simple convenience. In either case, the data indicates these tools have entered much more into private, personal ground than many had believed.
Companies making chatbot products have noticed and started to add features focused on supportive conversation. In the case of an actual crisis, mental health professionals warn that chatbots are not a replacement for licensed care. Official guidance from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration highlights that individuals experiencing a mental health crisis should connect directly with licensed professionals or dedicated support helplines.
Age gaps in the data have generated specific interest from researchers who are investigating how younger adults interact with technology for relationship formation. One explanation is the lower stigma of talking about personal struggles with an AI system versus a human listener. Others argue that chatbots are just more readily accessible at 3 o’clock in the morning than a therapist or trusted friend likely would be.
The picture is made all the more complex by privacy considerations, too, as many users queuing into a chatbot about emotional vulnerability may not at all realize how this data is stored or leveraged. Federal regulatory guidance from the Federal Trade Commission emphasizes that consumer-facing AI platforms must maintain clear data handling practices and transparent privacy policies. The lack of transparency is still one of the more serious criticisms leveled alongside the findings from the survey.
Public health researchers say the trend is one to watch as chatbot use continues to grow among all ages. Should emotional-support use increase as quickly as general adoption, it could completely change the national conversation regarding mental health access. As of now, the data provides an early window into a behavior that looks to be only getting going.
While using an AI model can be a powerful tool for navigating mental health, it should not replace talking to a licensed professional or calling a crisis line if you or someone you know is in crisis.
