NSC_Letter to OMB_HTOPS_0805425

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August 5, 2026

TO:			Desk Officer for the U.S. Census Bureau
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)

FROM:			Acting Survey Director, High Frequency Surveys
Associate Directorate Demographic Programs

SUBJECT:	Household Trends and Outlook Pulse Survey (HTOPS) July and September 2026 questionnaire content
The Census Bureau is writing to request approval of a Non-Substantive change to the timing of collecting a specific series of questions in the Household Trends and Outlook Pulse Survey (HTOPS) originally planned for July 2026 approved on July 13, 2026 (OMB No. 0607-1029). Refer to the 30-day notice in the Federal Register (91 FR 33687) published June 4, 2026. This request is in keeping with the Census Bureau’s commitment to foster transparency in its efforts to produce new, relevant and timely data on the impacts of national events—whether social, economic, or health-related.
The requested change consists of including eight questionnaire items related to personal use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the September HTOPS data collection rather than the July data collection. The items were originally planned and approved for inclusion in July but were not able to be included then due to a programming complication. Since these questions were not included in July, there is no change in the level of burden related to the current approval. The personal use of AI questions (AIP1 – AI-JOB4) will be placed directly after planned questions about the use of AI at work (AI1 – AI4) in the September questionnaire. The AI-related items being referenced are listed in Attachment 1 at the end of this memorandum.
Some minor adjustments to the placement of instructional text and updates to the wording of planned AI1 – AI4 questions are needed:
    • The lead-in statement “Artificial intelligence (AI) is the capability of computational systems to perform tasks typically associated with human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and decision-making” is already included on the AI2 question about the use of AI at work, so is not needed on the AIP1 question.
    • The example statement “This includes standalone tools like ChatGPT or Gemini, as well as AI features built into apps, devices, search engines, or software, such as search summaries or writing suggestions” is included in the lead-in statement for AI2, rather than AIP1, to come at the beginning of the full series of AI questions.  
    • The AIP1 question will include the transition statement, “Now thinking about your life outside of work” to shift the respondent’s focus from AI at work to personal use of AI. 
Wording to the existing questions about the use of AI at work in Part A, Attachment A Questionnaire document have been adjusted to appropriately match the questions that were approved and included in the March HTOPS:
    • In AI1, the response option for “Construction, trades...” was adjusted to “Construction and skilled trades...”
    • In AI1, “Farming, fishing, and forestry” was added as a response option
    • In AI1, “Security, safety, food, cleaning, and personal...” was adjusted to “Security, safety, food, cleaning, groundskeeping, and personal...”
    • In AI1, the “Other” response option was removed
    • In AI2, the response option for “Providing customer or coworker support” was adjusted to “Customer support”
    • In AI2, the response options for “Searching for facts” was adjusted to “Searching for informational or technical help”
    • In AI2, the response option for “Tutoring or educational assistance” was adjusted to “Tutoring, training, or educational assistance”
    • In AI3, the response option for “Used, but not last week” was adjusted to “Did not use last week”
    • In AI4, the response option for “Required additional time” was added
Collection of these items in the September HTOPS data collection will allow the Census Bureau to provide the same amount of data on all originally planned content in 2026. Thank you for your consideration. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.  

Attachment 1. Series of AI Questions in the September HTOPS
[Display AI series if EMP2=yes]
AI1 What is your occupation? 
    • Computer occupations (for example, computer support specialists, software developers, data scientists) (1)
    • Construction and skilled trades, production, transportation, and material moving occupations (2)
    • Education and social services and arts, design, entertainment, and media occupations (3)
    • Engineering, architecture, and life, physical, and social sciences occupations (4)
    • Farming, fishing, and forestry (5)
    • Healthcare practitioners and healthcare support occupations (6)
    • Management, business operations, financial, and legal occupations (7)
    • Office and administrative support occupations (8)
    • Sales occupations (9)
    • Security, safety, food, cleaning, groundskeeping, and personal care services occupations (10)

AI2 Artificial intelligence (AI) is the capability of computational systems to perform tasks typically associated with human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and decision-making. This includes standalone tools like ChatGPT or Gemini, as well as AI features built into apps, devices, search engines, or software, such as search summaries or writing suggestions.
IN YOUR WORK, have you used AI to do any of the following tasks? Select Yes or No for each.

         Yes
No
Administrative tasks (1) 
o
o
Coding or modeling (2) 
o
o
Data analysis and visualization (3) 
o
o
Generating ideas (4) 
o
o
Interpreting, translating, or summarizing (5) 
o
o
Managing logistics or supply chains (6) 
o
o
Medical care (7) 
o
o
Customer support (8) 
o
o
Searching for information or technical help (9)
o
o
Tutoring, training, or educational assistance (10)
o
o
Writing communications, documentation, or instructions (11)
o
o

[Display only if AI2 = yes for at least 1 of the tasks]
AI3 AT WORK, how often did you use AI last week? 
    • Used every day last week  (1)
    • Used at least 1 day last week, but not every day  (2)
    • Did not use last week  (3)


[Display only if AI3 = (1 or 2)]
AI4 If you had NOT been able to use AI at work last week, how many additional hours would you have needed to complete the same amount of work? Select only one answer.
    • Less than 1 hour  (1)
    • 1 hour  (2)
    • 2 hours  (3)
    • 3 hours  (4)
    • 4 hours  (5)
    • More than 4 hours  (6)
    • No time savings  (7)
    • Required additional time  (8)

AIP1 Now thinking about your life outside of work…

In the last 2 months, have YOU used an AI tool for any of the following activities?
Select all that apply.
☐ I have not used an AI tool in the last 2 months 
☐ Finding factual information
☐ Brainstorming or generating ideas
☐ Writing, editing, or translating text
☐ Assisting with schoolwork or learning
☐ Assisting with creative tasks (such as creating images, music, or writing)
☐ Searching for jobs or work opportunities
☐ Looking for housing or apartments
☐ Understanding government benefits or public services
☐ Getting health or medical information
☐ Mental health or emotional support
☐ Comparing financial products or services
☐ Other - Specify: __________

[Display if AIP1 ≠ “I have not personally used an AI tool”]

AIP2 Outside of work or school, how often did you personally use AI tools in the last 2 months?
o Every day or almost every day
o Several times a week
o Several times a month
o Once or twice in the last 2 months


[Display if AIP1 ≠ “I have not personally used an AI tool”]

AIP3 Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements.
Statement
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree





Content generated by AI is useful for the kinds of tasks I want to complete

o
o
o
o
I feel prepared to use AI in daily life
o
o
o
o
I trust information generated by AI systems
o
o
o
o
AI tools help me complete tasks more quickly
o
o
o
o
I am concerned about AI’s impact on jobs and careers
o
o
o
o
I am concerned about how AI systems use personal data
o
o
o
o

AIP4 In the last 2 months, have you actively avoided or opted out of using AI?
Examples may include disabling AI-generated summaries, turning off an AI assistant or feature, or avoiding use of an AI-based application.
o Yes
o No
o Not sure

AI-JOB1 In the last 2 months, have you searched for jobs or explored new work opportunities?
o Yes
o No

[Display if AI-JOB1 = Yes]

AI-JOB2 In the last 2 months, did you use AI tools for any of the following job search activities?
Select all that apply.
☐ Finding or evaluating job opportunities 
☐ Preparing application materials 
☐ Preparing for interviews 
☐ Assistance during a live interview or assessment 
☐ Learning or practicing job-related skills 
☐ None of the above 
☐ Other - Specify: __________


[Display if AI-JOB2 ≠ “None of the above”]

AI-JOB3 Overall, how much did AI tools help with your job search activities?
o Helped a lot
o Helped somewhat
o Did not make much difference
o Made it somewhat more difficult
o Made it much more difficult

[Display if AI-JOB1 = Yes]

AI-JOB4 Did you receive a job offer in the last 2 months?
o Yes
o No