116% Increase in AI Tool Spending in 1H 2025

NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer Edge ('CE'), a leading provider of global consumer data-driven insights, announced a 116 percent increase in consumer spending on AI tools year-over-year in the first half of 2025.

OpenAI leads the surge in AI spending, accounting for 40 percent of consumer AI purchases. Its ChatGPT Pro subscription revenue grew by 1,100 percent year-over-year. Competitors are also experiencing significant growth, with Perplexity, the AI-powered search engine, achieving nearly 300 percent growth and high customer retention. Meanwhile, xAI, known for its Grok chatbot integrated with X, is generating revenue at approximately two-thirds the level of Perplexity.

Michael Gunther, Vice President and Head of Insights at Consumer Edge, stated, 'AI is becoming deeply woven into the way people live and work. Consumers are spending significant amounts on AI tools, developing lasting habits across their jobs and creative hobbies. This data demonstrates that AI has moved beyond novelty and is becoming a defining driver of the consumer economy.'

Consumer Edge currently tracks over 130 AI brands across categories including productivity, engineering, art and video, text tools, business, and photo editing, with coverage continuing to expand.