AI Chatbots Not a Primary News Source
Source: pewresearch.org
A growing number of people in the U.S. are using AI chatbots such as ChatGPT. Yet, these chatbots have not become a usual news source for most. According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, about one-in-ten adults in the U.S. report that they often (2%) or sometimes (7%) get their news from AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Gemini. A further 16% stated they rarely do so. The majority of Americans (75%) say they never use this method to get news. Also, fewer than 1% of Americans would rather get news from chatbots over other sources.
Pew Research Center did this analysis as part of their continuous study of AI's effects on society, including the news and information landscape. To gauge the views of the American public, they surveyed 5,153 U.S. adults between August 18 and 24, 2025. All participants are members of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), a group selected through national, random sampling of home addresses who have agreed to take surveys on a regular basis. This recruitment strategy ensures almost every adult in the U.S. has a chance to be selected. The interviews were conducted online or via phone with a live interviewer. The survey was weighted to represent the U.S. adult population based on gender, race, ethnicity, political affiliation, education, and other demographics.
Related: Americans anticipate negative impacts of AI on news and journalists.
Adults under 50 are somewhat more inclined than older adults to get news from AI chatbots at least occasionally (12% versus 6%). However, more significant age-related differences exist in overall chatbot usage.
Experiences with AI Chatbot News
Americans who use AI chatbots for news have varied experiences, especially regarding their perceptions of the news's quality. One-third of chatbot news users find it hard to discern what is factual. Approximately a quarter (24%) find it simple, while the largest percentage (42%) are unsure.
Roughly half of the adults who get news from AI chatbots say they at least sometimes encounter news they consider inaccurate. This includes 16% who report seeing this extremely often or often. Another 22% say they rarely or never see inaccurate news on chatbots, while 29% are not sure. Younger adults, while more likely to use chatbots, are also more prone to report seeing inaccurate news there. Among those who get news from AI chatbots, 59% of adults between 18 and 29 and 51% of those between 30 and 49 say they at least sometimes see news they think is inaccurate. In comparison, 43% of those aged 50 to 64 and 36% of those 65 and older say the same. Unlike age, political party or education level do not create major differences regarding this issue.