Andreessen Horowitz Report Finds Only 2% of US Households Pay for AI Services
New data from Andreessen Horowitz indicates that consumer spending on AI remains limited, with only a small fraction of US households paying for services despite rising average monthly costs.
Consumer adoption of paid AI services remains low, with only about 2% to 2.2% of US households paying for these tools as of April and May 2026. This data, featured in the latest State of Markets report from Andreessen Horowitz, is based on an analysis of PNC Bank transaction records.
While the current percentage of paying users is small, the market has grown from near zero in early 2023. For those who do pay, monthly costs have increased, with average spending reaching $31 as of May 2026, compared to roughly $22 in May 2024.
Alternative data from Bank of America suggests a slightly higher adoption rate of approximately 3% as of March 2026, representing about 40% year-over-year growth.
The report also highlights challenges in measuring enterprise AI adoption. While 30% of S&P 500 companies report a measurable impact from AI, only 2% of those firms consistently track relevant metrics.
Economic concerns persist regarding the sustainability of current AI business models. The analysis notes that even if AI services achieved user numbers similar to established subscriptions like Netflix, current revenue levels would not cover the operating costs of major providers.
The Andreessen Horowitz report, released around September 30, 2026, emphasizes that consumer revenue has not yet kept pace with the significant infrastructure spending occurring across the industry.
