U.S. daily AI usage more than doubles between March and August 2026
Two representative surveys by research institute Epoch AI and polling firm Ipsos show that the share of U.S. adults who use AI almost every day rose from 8 percent in March 2026 to 19 percent in August 2026. At the same time, the share of occasional users who used AI only one day a week fell from 17 percent to 10 percent.
Key points
- Daily AI use by U.S. adults rose from 8% to 19% between March and August 2026.
- Occasional AI use fell from 17% to 10% over the same six‑month span.
- Epoch AI’s March survey had 2,017 participants; August’s had 1,016, and question wording differed, possibly underestimating August usage.
The March survey sampled 2,017 participants, while the August survey sampled 1,016. Researchers note the two surveys are not fully comparable because March respondents were asked about overall AI use, whereas August respondents were asked about each service separately and the highest reported frequency was used. This methodological shift could cause the August figures to underestimate actual usage, according to Epoch AI.
Daily AI usage in the U.S. has more than doubled in just six months
The Decoder · 20 September 2026
Daily AI usage in the U.S. has more than doubled in just six months
The share of US adults who use AI almost every day more than doubled between March and August 2026. The findings come from two representative surveys that research institute Epoch AI conducted with polling firm Ipsos. The share who used AI on at least six out of seven days rose from 8 percent to 19 percent. Meanwhile, the share of occasional users who used AI only one day a week fell from 17 percent to 10 percent.
The March 2026 survey included 2,017 participants, and the August survey included 1,016. Both samples were randomly selected and weighted to reflect the US population. But the results aren't fully comparable, Epoch AI says. In March, participants were asked how often they used AI overall. In August, they were asked about each service separately, and researchers used the highest reported frequency. That difference could cause the August figures to underestimate actual usage, the researchers say.
This text was published by The Decoder and written by Matthias Bastian. It is reproduced here with attribution so you can read it in full; the rights remain with the publisher. Read it at the source ↗
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