Generative AI (GenAI) tools are no longer just cutting-edge experiments — they’ve become part of daily life and work for millions.¹ Tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot are changing how people create, solve problems, and interact with technology.² With 2025 underway, GenAI is continuing to grow, both in adoption and influence. It’s making its way into homes, offices, and smartphones, and it’s poised to shape industries.

The GenAI market is predicted to grow from $40 billion in 2022 to $1.3 trillion by 2032.³ The stats tell a powerful story: GenAI is likely here to stay.

The rising wave of GenAI adoption 

GenAI usage has been rapidly adopted since OpenAI publicly released ChatGPT in November 2022, and now there are nearly 300 million weekly active users.⁴ Nearly all Americans have heard of GenAI and 53% have used it. The majority use it at home (81%), although 30% of people report using it at work, and 17% at school. Four out of 5 Americans say GenAI will make life easier and it will help them be more creative.⁵

Empower research shows that 21% of Americans would use AI to recommend money moves to plan for retirement, help pay bills on time (25%) and make a budget by examining personal financial accounts (23%).

Businesses are also taking note, with a LinkedIn study revealing 51% of companies that adopted GenAI in the past two years have reported revenue increases of 10% or more.⁶ Empower findings show that most executives (96%) feel an urgency to incorporate AI into their business operations, and while this includes more than just GenAI, it is part of the picture. A Q4 2024 Deloitte study shows that 78% of executives expect to increase their overall AI spending in the next fiscal year._⁷

Read more: The unretirement surge: Boomers and Gen Xers are heading back to work

Major players in the GenAI space

The competitive landscape for GenAI tools has exploded. Here’s a quick rundown from ZDNET of some chatbot options:⁸

• OpenAI’s ChatGPT: Offering a free version and a monthly ChatGPT Plus subscription, this remains one of the most popular tools for tasks like writing, coding, and brainstorming.
• Microsoft Copilot: Integrated into Microsoft 365 apps, Copilot automates data analysis, document creation, and meeting notes for a monthly subscription.
• Anthrophic’s Claude: Privacy is the priority of this chatbot, offering transparency in how a user’s prompts are handled. There’s a free version and Claude Pro for subscribers.
• Perplexity.ai: This free chatbot provides a useful search function and suggested prompts for diving down rabbit holes of information.
• Google’s Gemini: The chatbot formerly known as Bard is integrated into Gmail and Google Docs, helping users draft emails, summarize reports, and brainstorm ideas. There’s a free version and Gemini Advanced for subscribers.

Paid subscriptions are becoming a normal part of budgets for some GenAI users. According to Forrester, 29% of Americans are willing to pay a monthly subscription fee for GenAI tools.⁹

Read more: Ask AI: Are we in the era of dynamic pricing?

What’s next for GenAI? 

GenAI is rapidly evolving, with new features and tools rolling out almost monthly.¹⁰ It’s changing how people search for information. Early adopters are increasingly favoring AI chatbots over traditional search engines like Google for their ability to provide deeper, more conversational answers.¹¹

This year, 750 million apps are expected to use large language models, or LLMs, which are central to GenAI.¹²

As adoption rises, expect to see deeper integration into everyday technology with personalized user experiences and advanced creative tools as GenAI continues down the mainstream path.¹³