AI Purchasing on the Cusp
Our survey shows consumer curiosity is high, but trust is still catching up.
How users harness AI
The frequency factor
The trust gap
The consumer equation
How users harness AI
Age matters more than income for AI usage
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The frequency factor
Learning is the top AI use case across most age groups
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of respondents are familiar with AI tools
The trust gap
Lack of trust is a key barrier for completing purchases using AI
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51% of respondents have data privacy concerns, while 56% have security/ encryption doubts
The consumer equation
Grocery purchases lead the pack in AI purchases
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Grocery in detail
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
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Consumer AI usage is rising, but purchasing behavior lags
There’s a large gap between openness and adoption
Trust, not functionality, remains the key barrier
In payments, AI curiosity is high— but consumer trust is still catching up
Top concerns of data privacy (51%) and security/encryption (56%) outweigh worries about product fit or support. Surprisingly, banks and credit card providers scored lowest in comfort (16%), indicating a trust gap even among traditional financial institutions
ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS
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ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS
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While just 10% of respondents said they have bought something using AI …
... 64% have used or are open to using AI for purchasing
ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS
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Additional insights
Groceries and household supplies are by far the largest category
Usage rates in the middle age groups are very similar
But income has less effect on AI use for grocery purchases
ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS
To build trust and drive adoption, vendors should focus on transparency, data protection, and clear consumer benefits like convenience and savings.
Starting with low-stakes categories like groceries may help build comfort and familiarity over time
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Consumers want control, so AI is still a helper, not a buyer
Bain & Company partnered with ROI Rocket to survey about 2,000 US consumers.
Percentage of respondents who made a purchase using AI in each category
Percentage of respondents “fairly” or “completely” comfortable using AI in purchases
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Sort by:
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Sort by:
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Sort by:
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Consumers want convenience and savings from their AI purchases
They also want clear opt-in/opt-out tools
Percentage of respondents who report using AI for each task
Percentage of respondents reporting frequency of AI usage
Percentage of respondents
Source: Bain AI Payments Consumer Survey, March 2025 (n=2,016)
Age plays a more significant role than income in comfort level
Companies should design experiences that are transparent, convenient, and under the consumer’s control
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High percentage but of a small group
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ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS
ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS
ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS
SURVEY SUMMARY
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In payments, AI curiosity is high— but consumer trust is still catching up
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Consumer AI usage is rising, but purchasing behavior lags
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Trust, not functionality, remains the key barrier
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There’s a large gap between openness and adoption
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Consumers want control, so AI is still a helper, not a buyer
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Our survey shows consumer curiosity is high, but trust is still catching up.
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