Adoption of generative AI tools is skyrocketing in the US, led by ChatGPT

Nearly half of US internet adults recently surveyed report using at least one generative AI tool, such as ChatGPT or Gemini. The rapid adoption of generative AI technology is due to its widespread use for online searches and work-related tasks.

➤ The use of generative AI tools has nearly doubled over the past 18 months, reaching 46% of US internet adults in 2025, according to recent survey results.

➤ ChatGPT and Gemini are the top two most popular generative AI tools.

➤ As the overall market for generative AI tools expands, the percentage of older adults (aged 55+) is growing.

➤ In our first-quarter 2024 survey, most users of generative AI tools were men, but the gender distribution is evening out as the market segment expands. However, users still tend to be heavily skewed toward college-educated adults.

Results from S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan’s US Consumer Insights surveys show that consumer adoption of generative AI tools has skyrocketed over the past 18 months. In early 2024 approximately one-quarter (24%) of surveyed US internet adults reported using a generative AI tool. By the fall of 2024, the use of generative AI tools had risen to 33% and jumped to nearly half (46%) of internet adults in late 2025.

Generative AI applications are being used as standalone tools and integrated into websites and mobile apps to enhance chat and search functionality. What makes this technology powerful is that makes it easier for consumers to do what they have already been doing, using conversational (natural language processing) queries.

The 2025 Consumer Insights survey found that nearly three-quarters (73%) of those using a generative AI tool had used OpenAI LLC's ChatGPT. Four out of 10 cited using Alphabet Inc.'s Google Gemini AI, with 26% using Microsoft Corp.'s Bing AI/CoPilot and 25% using Meta Platforms Inc.'s MetaAI assistant. Midjourney, DALL-E and Synthesia are AI platforms that specialize in using AI-driven prompts to create images and video content. Grok is an AI-driven chatbot owned by X.AI LLC, a company founded by Elon Musk in 2023. Claude, developed by Anthropic PBC, is known for its ability to perform technical tasks, such as generating computer code. DeepSeek is a Chinese AI startup that also supports code generation; it is generally available to US users, but its use has been banned by some US states on government-issued devices and networks.

Perplexity is an AI-driven search engine that facilitates searching for financial information, such as real-time stock quotes, and related news. In addition, the company has recently launched an AI shopping assistant feature in competition with Amazon.com Inc.'s Rufus shopping assistant and Walmart Inc.'s Sparky shopping assistant (powered by ChatGPT).

Examining ChapGPT users by age shows that older adults have begun using AI assistants. In early 2024, adults aged 55 and older represented 25% of total ChatGPT users. Eighteen months later, the percentage of adults aged 55 and older now represents 28% of a much larger US generative AI user base. The use of Google’s Gemini by older (55+) adults has also expanded over the same time period.

The survey data also shows that the use of generative AI tools is skewed heavily toward men. As the overall market expands, one would expect that the percentage of male users will decline as women increasingly adopt the technology. For example, over the past year, the percentage of men using ChatGPT has declined six percentage points from 56% to 50%. MetaAI also has a nearly even gender split among its user base. CoPilot and Gemini remain heavily skewed toward males. Use of specialized generative AI tools, such as Midjourney and Perplexity, is skewed heavily toward men.

Those adopting generative AI tools also tend to be college-educated adults. For example, seven in 10 users of ChatGPT, Gemini and CoPilot reported having completed at least a four-year college degree. The majority of MetaAI users were also college-educated adults.