Share of consumers interested in discovering brands through artificial intelligence (AI) in the United States in 2026

As of May 2026, in-store browsing remains the most popular way for U.S. consumers to discover new clothing or brands, cited by ** percent of respondents. Retailer websites or apps follow at ** percent, while recommendations from friends or family ( ** percent) and online search engines ( ** percent) also play a considerable role. By contrast, social media platforms are mentioned by ** percent, and interest in AI-driven tools remains comparatively low, with *** percent of respondents selecting both general AI tools and AI chat tools integrated into shopping platforms.