Pew: Half of Americans Distrust AI in Healthcare, Fear Privacy Risks
Pew survey finds 50% of Americans worry about AI use in healthcare and privacy risks.
Why it matters: Legal and compliance teams in healthcare face growing pressure to manage AI-related privacy and regulatory risks. Understanding public skepticism can guide better policy and risk mitigation.
- 50% of U.S. adults are more concerned than excited about AI’s increased use in daily life (June 2025).
- 71% believe AI makes their personal information less secure (February 2026).
- HIPAA does not cover open-source AI models in healthcare, exposing users to data privacy risks.
- About 25% of U.S. adults used AI for health information in the prior 30 days (2025), often seeking quick answers or additional insights.
A Pew Research Center survey from June 2025 reveals that half of U.S. adults feel more concerned than excited about the growing use of artificial intelligence in everyday life, an increase from 37% in 2021. The surge in concern reflects broader unease around AI’s implications, especially in sensitive areas like healthcare.
Supporting this trend, a February 2026 Pew survey found that 71% of Americans believe AI use will reduce the security of their personal information. This skepticism is particularly acute in healthcare, where confidential patient data is involved.
According to legal reporting, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) does not extend its protections to open-source AI models used in healthcare settings. This regulatory gap raises significant privacy concerns for patients whose data may be processed or stored by these systems without traditional safeguards.
Despite reservations, AI is increasingly used for health information: a 2025 West Health-Gallup poll documented approximately 25% of U.S. adults had used AI tools for health insights in the previous month. Many users sought rapid answers or supplemental information before or after consulting healthcare professionals, as reported by AP News.
For legal and compliance teams working in healthcare, these findings underscore the urgent need to address evolving data privacy challenges linked to AI deployment. The public’s distrust presents reputational risks, and existing regulatory frameworks may require updates to encompass new AI technologies more comprehensively.
By the numbers:
- 50% — U.S. adults concerned about AI’s impact on daily life (June 2025).
- 71% — Americans think AI threatens personal information security (February 2026).
- 25% — Adults who used AI for health information in the prior 30 days (2025).