➤ Key Highlights
Seven-in-10 U.S. consumers now use AI in their personal lives, with 45% using it daily.
Use of AI in daily life is up roughly 25% between December 2024 and September 2025.پ
“How U.S. Consumers Are Adopting Generative AI,” a survey of 1,500 U.S. consumers from Bain & Company, indicates this rapidly rising consumer use of AI includes leading-edge generative AI and agentic AI solutions.
Nearly 15% more consumers are relying on AI overviews for answers to most product searches, without clicking any external links, than were in December 2024.
This “zero click” model now accounts for approximately 65% of consumer searches.
Fifteen percent of respondents start searches with generative AI chatbots (25% of Gen Z and millennial respondents).
Only 25% of respondents would trust a known retailer agentic AI chat bot to manage their end-to-end shopping journey.
More than half (55%) of respondents trust generative AI to give accurate answers and information.
A recent survey conducted by Bain & Company highlights increased adoption of AI among U.S. consumers in their daily lives. The study details a significant rise in the use of generative and agentic AI solutions for product searches and information gathering. Patterns such as the rise of "zero click" searches and trust in AI-driven results are prominent findings.
The lens of evolving consumer preferences reveals how emerging technologies are transforming shopping behaviors and expectations. As new tools become widely adopted, they influence not just how consumers search for products but also the factors that drive their purchasing choices. Preferences are increasingly shaped by convenience and trust in automated technology responses. These shifts point to a broader change in how consumers interact with information and make decisions throughout the shopping journey.
⚠️ Why it matters now
For CRE360’s audience, understanding these evolving consumer preferences is critical as technology continues to redefine demand drivers and retail engagement. Shifting habits around search, trust, and interaction with AI systems can inform tenant mix, leasing strategies, and property design. Awareness of how technology is shaping consumer choice is increasingly important for anticipating the needs of users and aligning offerings accordingly.
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➤ TAKEAWAY
Continued monitoring of consumer preferences as AI adoption grows may help stakeholders anticipate changes in retail demand and space utilization. As technology-driven behaviors solidify, CRE professionals could see further evolution in the types of retail experiences and services that attract and retain tenants. The relationship between technology and consumer choice will likely remain a core consideration in future planning.
