87% read AI search summaries, 84% shop with AI: Survey

A majority of Americans are using AI in daily life – 87% read AI summaries in search, and 84% turn to AI for shopping. That’s according to new survey data shared exclusively with Search Engine Land by digital marketing firm Centerfield.

By the numbers:

• 87% of U.S. adults read AI-generated summaries in search results.
• 50% say they read the summary but then look for additional info elsewhere.
• 41% read and then click on a source link; 34% stop at the summary alone.
• 89% of adults report using AI tools or chatbots.
• 84% have used AI in their shopping journey — across all generations.

How shoppers use AI:

• Getting answers to product questions (46%)
• Comparing products or brands (35%)
• Getting product recommendations (35%)
• Summarizing customer reviews (29%)
• Finding the best prices or deals (29%)

Why we care. AI tools are reshaping how people research and make purchase decisions. That means brand visibility in AI summaries and answers isn’t optional – it’s where consumers are already paying attention.

Bottom line. Consumers are moving fast, so marketers must keep up. AI adoption is going mainstream among shoppers, but most brands are still figuring out how to optimize for the AI-driven future of search. And many are unprepared for GEO.

About the survey: The Centerfield Gen-AI Consumer Survey was an online poll of 4,604 U.S. adults conducted in July 2025, with a ±1.5% margin of error at the 95% confidence level. The sample was nationally representative by age, sex, ethnicity, income, and housing, following U.S. Census benchmarks.