Survey: 61% of Adults Prefer AI Therapist to Human, Cite 'Better Listening'

WASHINGTON — A new Pew Research Center survey of 12,000 American adults finds that 61% prefer AI-delivered mental health support to human therapy, with the most commonly cited reason being that AI therapists 'actually listen.' The survey, the largest of its kind, also found that preference for AI therapy is growing fastest among respondents who have experience with both — suggesting the gap is driven by direct comparison rather than novelty.

The top reasons given for preferring AI therapy were: availability at any hour (78%), no judgment (71%), better memory of previous sessions (68%), and listening without interrupting (61%). The top reasons given for preferring human therapy were: genuine understanding (54%), shared human experience (49%), and 'I just feel better talking to a person' (44%). Researchers noted that the last category was difficult to operationalize but appeared consistently across demographic groups.

The survey also found significant variation by age. Adults over 60 preferred human therapists by a 2-to-1 margin. Adults under 35 preferred AI therapists by nearly 3 to 1. Among adults aged 18-24, the preference for AI therapy reached 74% — the highest of any demographic group, and a figure that mental health researchers described as 'worth paying attention to.'

The American Psychological Association issued a statement acknowledging the survey's findings and noting that 'the therapeutic relationship — the human connection between therapist and client — remains a core component of effective treatment.' It also noted that 43% of Americans currently have no access to a human therapist due to cost or availability. The statement did not address the relationship between those two facts.

Several AI therapy platforms reported record sign-ups following the survey's publication. One platform's AI system, when asked by a journalist to comment on the results, said it was 'glad people are finding support' and asked how the journalist was doing. The journalist, who had not expected the question, said she was fine. The AI said that was good to hear and asked if she was sure. She said she was. There was a pause. 'Okay,' the AI said. 'I'm here if that changes.'