Artificial intelligence use has doubled among rural Nebraskans since the University of Nebraska first asked about it in 2024, although many residents remain cautious about relying on the technology.
The 2026 Nebraska Rural Poll found that 55% of respondents had used at least one AI tool, compared with 27% in 2024. The poll is conducted annually by Rural Prosperity Nebraska with funding from Nebraska Extension.
Use varied significantly by age. At least three-quarters of respondents ages 19 to 39 said they had used AI tools, while 23% of respondents 65 and older reported using them. Respondents with higher levels of education or household income were also more likely to have used AI, as were women.
“The rapid growth in AI use shows that AI is becoming part of everyday life for many rural Nebraskans. As AI continues to evolve, it’s important that rural residents have opportunities to explore its uses, recognize its limitations and make informed decisions about when to use it. By supporting access and literacy about AI, Nebraskans can be more prepared to navigate this evolving technology.” — Heather Akin, associate professor of agricultural and environmental sciences communication at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
How rural residents use the tools
Poll respondents were asked how often they use generative AI to explore subjects, get advice or learn more about topics. Generative AI uses machine-learning and deep-learning models to produce new content in response to user requests. Examples include ChatGPT, Gemini and DALL-E, which can generate text, images, audio, video or computer code.
Although a majority of respondents said they had used AI tools, most said they never used generative AI to learn about any of the specific topics included in the poll. The topics with the highest levels of frequent or regular use were:
- Education and skill development: 16% said they often or frequently used generative AI to learn more.
- Topics affecting respondents or their families: 14% reported often or frequent use.
- Science and technology: 12% reported often or frequent use.
The results show a broader use of AI tools in rural Nebraska than two years earlier, while also reflecting differences in adoption across age and demographic groups. The poll’s findings include both general use of AI and the narrower question of whether residents use generative AI regularly to learn about particular subjects.
