Paying for AI flipped from 3% of users to 55% in one year
StatAI
55% of AI users now pay for at least one AI product, up from 3% in 2025. The typical payer spends USD 20-49 a month; 48% cover the cost entirely themselves, 34% have family or friends paying, and 20% are covered by an employer or school.
Source
Menlo Ventures, 2026: The State of Consumer AI (with Morning Consult, n=5,067) (2026)
Shawn Carolan, Amy Wu Martin, Sam Borja (Menlo Ventures)
Menlo Ventures x Morning Consult survey, Jul 2026 (n=5,067)
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StatConsumer AI spending tripled to USD 40 billion while users grew just 11%StatThe top 14% of AI spenders account for 60% of all consumer AI spendStatA quarter of Americans use AI daily; intensity is growing faster than adoptionStatDaily AI assistant use beats ride-sharing and food delivery combinedStatThe average AI user now runs three assistants side by sideStatA third of agent users have let AI act without final approvalStat92% of AI agent users pay for AI - agents are the monetisation frontierStatNearly a third of US adults have already earned money with AIStatAccuracy and trust now beat ease of use in choosing AI toolsStatDistrust of AI-generated information among non-users rose from 58% to 70%WarningKnown AI-generated content carries a 2-to-1 engagement penaltyStatFor medical, legal and mental-health advice, humans beat AI three to one
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