Usage Outpaces AI Literacy

A 2026 YouGov survey of 1,000 Americans finds heavy interaction with AI (81% ever used; 48% weekly; 18% daily) while only 34% correctly identify the acronym 'LLM' (Large Language Model). The gap is largest by age: Gen Z far more literate (60% correct) than Baby Boomers (18%), showing people use generative AI without understanding its basic mechanics. — A widespread usage–literacy mismatch creates governance, consumer‑protection and education risks: people will be affected by AI decisions without the technical knowledge to judge reliability, bias, or data‑sharing consequences.