March 2026
PYMNTS Data Book

The Data Behind AI’s Shift to Everyday Consumer Use

More than half of adult America now uses artificial intelligence tools in their daily lives, taking what until recently was an experiment mainstream.

Get Unlimited Access
Complete the form below for free, unlimited access to all our Data Studies, Trackers, and PYMNTS Intelligence reports.

Thank you for registering. Please confirm your email to view all our Trackers.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    More Americans are now using artificial intelligence in their everyday lives, and usage is becoming more regular, increasingly mobile and more closely tied to dedicated apps. The latest PYMNTS Intelligence data shows a market moving from trial to habit as consumers make AI part of daily routines.

    Consumer AI Usage

    Majority Reached

    AI use for personal tasks reached 54% of U.S. consumers in January, up five percentage points from December 2025. This is the clearest indication yet that AI has moved into the mainstream. One-third of consumers are now mainstream users, showing that adoption is not just widening but deepening.

    AI Platform Shakeup

    ChatGPT remains the top platform used by consumers, but other platforms are gaining ground fast. Claude’s user base rose 22% in January month over month, while Gemini grew 8%. Consumers are still using the market leader, but they’re also trying alternatives as the market develops.

    App Advantage

    Consumers are increasingly reaching AI through apps, not just websites. ChatGPT users are most likely to access the platform through a smartphone or tablet app, at 38%. Gemini also shows app-led usage at 36%. This suggests that some platforms are now everyday tools that consumers keep close at hand.

    Power Migration

    Consumers who use AI the most are the most likely to use platforms’ affiliated apps when doing so. Among ChatGPT power users, 48.2% use the smartphone app, compared with 37.1% of light users. Across major platforms, higher engagement generally goes hand in hand with stronger app use and less reliance on browser access.

    AI Habits Shift

    Consumers who have replaced older methods of getting things done in favor of AI tools are more likely to use installed apps. Consumer use of the ChatGPT app rises from 33% of those who say the platform has complemented their old habits to 44% of those who say it has mostly replaced old habits. As AI becomes part of routine behavior, app-based access becomes more common.

    Methodology

    “For Millions of Consumers, Using AI has Become Routine” is based on findings from the March 2026 edition of The Agentic AI Report, a PYMNTS Intelligence exclusive series. The findings come from a survey of 3,497 U.S. consumers conducted from Jan. 6–30, 2026. The sample was balanced to reflect the U.S. adult population by age, gender, education and income.

    About

    PYMNTS INTELLIGENCE

    PYMNTS Intelligence is a leading global data and analytics platform that uses proprietary data and methods to provide actionable insights on what’s now and what’s next in payments, commerce and the digital economy. Its team of data scientists includes leading economists, econometricians, survey experts, financial analysts and marketing scientists with deep experience in the application of data to the issues that define the future of the digital transformation of the global economy. This multi-lingual team has conducted original data collection and analysis in more than three dozen global markets for some of the world’s leading publicly traded and privately held firms.

    We are interested in your feedback on this report. If you have questions or comments, or if you would like to subscribe to this report, please email us at feedback@pymnts.com.

    Disclaimer

    PYMNTS Data Books may be updated periodically. While reasonable efforts are made to keep the content accurate and up to date, PYMNTS MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING THE CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, ADEQUACY, OR RELIABILITY OF OR THE USE OF OR RESULTS THAT MAY BE GENERATED FROM THE USE OF THE INFORMATION OR THAT THE CONTENT WILL SATISFY YOUR REQUIREMENTS OR EXPECTATIONS. THE CONTENT IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND ON AN “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS. YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT YOUR USE OF THE CONTENT IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. PYMNTS SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY INTERRUPTIONS IN THE CONTENT THAT IS PROVIDED AND DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THE CONTENT, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NONINFRINGEMENT AND TITLE. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN WARRANTIES, AND, IN SUCH CASES, THE STATED EXCLUSIONS DO NOT APPLY. PYMNTS RESERVES THE RIGHT AND SHOULD NOT BE LIABLE SHOULD IT EXERCISE ITS RIGHT TO MODIFY, INTERRUPT, OR DISCONTINUE THE AVAILABILITY OF THE CONTENT OR ANY COMPONENT OF IT WITH OR WITHOUT NOTICE.
    PYMNTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, AND, IN PARTICULAR, SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, OR DAMAGES FOR LOST PROFITS, LOSS OF REVENUE, OR LOSS OF USE, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE CONTENT, WHETHER SUCH DAMAGES ARISE IN CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE, TORT, UNDER STATUTE, IN EQUITY, AT LAW, OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF PYMNTS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
    SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW FOR THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, AND IN SUCH CASES, SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS DO NOT APPLY. THE ABOVE DISCLAIMERS AND LIMITATIONS ARE PROVIDED BY PYMNTS AND ITS PARENTS, AFFILIATED AND RELATED COMPANIES, CONTRACTORS, AND SPONSORS, AND EACH OF ITS RESPECTIVE DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, MEMBERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, CONTENT COMPONENT PROVIDERS, LICENSORS, AND ADVISERS.
    Components of the content original to and the compilation produced by PYMNTS is the property of PYMNTS and cannot be reproduced without its prior written permission.