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By MATT O’BRIEN and LINLEY SANDERS

Most U.S. adults say they use artificial intelligence to search for information, but fewer are using it for work, drafting email or shopping.

Younger adults are most likely to be leaning into AI, with many using it for brainstorming and work tasks.

The new findings from an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll show that 60% of Americans overall — and 74% of those under 30 — use AI to find information at least some of the time.

The poll highlights the ubiquity of AI in some areas — as well as its limits in others. Only about 4 in 10 Americans say they have used AI for work tasks or coming up with ideas, a sign that the tech industry’s promises of highly productive AI assistants still haven’t touched most livelihoods after years of promotion and investment.

At the same time, wider AI adoption by younger Americans shows that could change.

There’s a particularly large age divide on brainstorming: About 6 in 10 adults under age 30 have used AI for coming up with ideas, compared with only 2 in 10 of those age 60 or older. Young adults are also more likely to use AI to come up with ideas at least “daily.” read more

By MATT OTT, AP Business Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans’ view of the U.S. economy improved this month, but Americans remain concerned about the impact of tariffs on their economic futures.

The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose two points to 97.2 in July, up from 95.2 the previous month.

The increase in confidence was in line with analysts’ forecasts.

In April, American consumers’ confidence in the economy sank to its lowest reading since May 2020, largely due to anxiety over the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

A measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for their income, business conditions and the job market rose 4.5 points to 74.4, however that’s still significantly below 80, the marker that can signal a recession ahead.

Consumers’ assessments of their current economic situation inched down by 1.5 points to 131.5.

Tariffs and the impact they could have on personal finances remains respondents’ greatest concern, the Conference Board said. read more

By PAUL WISEMAN, AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Employers posted 7.4 million job vacancies last month, a sign that the American job market continues to cool.

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The Labor Department reported Tuesday that job openings in June were down from 7.7 million in May and were about what forecasters had expected.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) showed that layoffs were little changed in June. But the number of people quitting their jobs — a sign of confidence in their prospects elsewhere — dropped last month to the lowest level since December. Hiring also fell from May. read more

Norwegian Cruise Line announced Tuesday it will build a water park on its private Bahamas island Great Stirrup Cay set to open in summer 2026.

The nearly 6-acre attraction called the Great Tides Waterpark will feature 19 slides, a 9,000-square-foot splashpad for kids, an 800-foot-long “dynamic river” and a first-in-industry cliff diving feature, the line stated.

In addition, the line announced it would set up a mini aquatic racecourse that uses “jet karts,” which the line says combines elements of go-karts and personal watercraft. That attraction would be a shore excursion experience not tied to the water park.

This rendering shows Cliffside Cove, part of the Great Tides Waterpark that is part of Norwegian Cruise Line’s plans to revamp its private Bahamas island Great Stirrup Cay. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line) This closeup rendering shows the 10- and 15-foot-tall jumps that are part of Cliffside Cove within Great Tides Waterpark, expected to open in summer 2026 as part of Norwegian Cruise Line’s plans to revamp its private Bahamas island Great Stirrup Cay. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line) This closeup rendering shows the the family slide that lets four people down at once as well as the Grotto Bar underneath, all part of Cliffside Cove within Great Tides Waterpark, expected to open in summer 2026 as part of Norwegian Cruise Line’s plans to revamp its private Bahamas island Great Stirrup Cay. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line) This rendering shows the 170-foot-tall Tidal Tower, home to eight of the Great Tides Waterpark’s 19 slides. The water park is slated to open in summer 2026 as part of Norwegian Cruise Line’s plans to revamp its private Bahamas island Great Stirrup Cay. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line) This rendering shows the “dynamic river” that is part of the Great Tides Waterpark coming in summer 2026 as part of Norwegian Cruise Line’s revamp its private Bahamas island Great Stirrup Cay. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line) This rendering shows the kids splash zone that is part of the Great Tides Waterpark coming in summer 2026 as part of Norwegian Cruise Line’s revamp its private Bahamas island Great Stirrup Cay. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line)