tech
Here's who is spending money on AI subscriptions, and how much they cost
April 17, 2026 / 10:35 AM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- The percentage of U.S. households paying for generative AI subscriptions has increased by approximately 155% compared to the previous year.
- Only about 2% of all U.S. households spend money on generative AI tools, with many subscribers being from upper-income brackets.
- Subscribers tend to remain with their AI tool plans for an average of seven months, suggesting they find ongoing value.
- The majority of households paying for AI subscriptions spend around $20 per month.
- Spending on AI subscriptions is significantly lower than spending on streaming services (2% vs. 25% of U.S. consumers) and sports betting apps (2% vs. 5% of U.S. households).