NATIONAL – Artificial intelligence has become deeply integrated into the daily lives of American consumers, with a new study revealing that more than 75% of Americans have used an AI system at least once in the past six months.
The research, conducted by Digital Marketing Expert Joe Youngblood, highlights a significant shift in how consumers are seeking information and discovering products.
The study found that one-third of Americans (33.02%) are now considered “heavy AI users,” accessing AI tools daily, indicating that the technology has moved beyond a novelty to become a regular utility.
ChatGPT Dominates AI Landscape
Among the various AI platforms, ChatGPT stands out as the clear leader, with 46.13% of Americans having used it in the last six months. This significantly overshadows competitors like Google Gemini (22.76%), Meta AI on Facebook (19.29%), and Google’s AI Overviews (18.94%).
Perhaps the most surprising finding is ChatGPT’s emergence as a preferred platform for specific tasks:
- Product Discovery: 26.32% of Americans now prefer ChatGPT for product discovery, slightly edging out Google Search (23.11%). This marks a notable change in the consumer purchasing journey, positioning AI chatbots as a key starting point for product research.
- General Information Gathering: For seeking general information, 27.54% of consumers prefer ChatGPT, narrowly surpassing Google Search (26.24%).
“These numbers show a clear shift in how Americans are seeking information and making purchasing decisions,” said Youngblood. “The fact that ChatGPT is now preferred over Google for certain types of searches signals a turning point in consumer behavior that brands need to recognize.”
Usage vs. Quality Perception
While ChatGPT leads in adoption and preference for several uses, the study also uncovered a contrast in perceived quality. Only 26.15% of Americans view ChatGPT as the highest quality brand, whereas Google maintains stronger brand credibility, with 48.39% of Americans considering it the highest quality option. This suggests that consumers are readily using AI tools even if they harbor some skepticism about their overall reliability.
Despite this, the positive impact of AI on search experiences is evident, with 40.83% of Americans believing AI has improved their web searching experience.
“What surprised me most was seeing ChatGPT outperforming Google Search for product discovery. This suggests consumers are finding value in conversational AI for shopping research, which has major implications for e-commerce strategies,” Youngblood added. “Businesses that aren’t monitoring how consumers use AI in their purchasing journeys are likely missing vital opportunities to connect with customers. The data shows AI isn’t just a tech trend—it’s become a primary gateway to information for millions of Americans.”
