AI Search Interest Surges 186% Nationwide as Americans Race to Learn About Artificial Intelligence
Key Takeaways
- Mississippi’s AI search interest exploded by 1,024.44%, jumping from just 5,812 AI searches per 100,000 residents in 2025 to 65,356 in 2026. Mississippi recorded the single largest increase in AI-related search activity of any state, far outpacing the rest of the country.
- Southern and Midwestern states dominate the top of the rankings: Arkansas (310.71%), Louisiana (238.79%), Kentucky (238.43%), and Ohio (238.06%) round out the top five, showing that AI curiosity is surging fastest outside traditional tech hubs.
- Three states saw AI search interest decline: West Virginia (-47.99%), North Dakota (-51.56%), and Montana (-57.63%) were the only states to record a drop in AI-related searches, signaling a widening digital interest gap.
Across the United States, interest in artificial intelligence is rising at dramatically different rates depending on where you live. While AI-related search activity has surged nationwide, the intensity of that growth varies widely from state to state. In some regions, search volumes have more than tripled in just one year, while a small number of states have seen interest fall. These patterns reveal not just where AI curiosity is growing, but where it may be lagging behind.
The study conducted by Intuitive Digital® analyzed AI-related search data from Google Trends and Google Keyword Planner across all 50 U.S. states, comparing AI searches per 100,000 residents in 2025 against 2026 figures to calculate year-over-year percentage changes. States were then ranked from highest growth to steepest decline.
Top 10 States With the Highest Growth in AI Search Interest
States With the Largest Year-Over-Year Increase in AI Searches per 100,000 Residents (2025–2026)
| Rank | State | AI Searches per 100K (2025) | AI Searches per 100K (2026) | % Rise |
| 1 | Mississippi | 5,812 | 65,356 | 1,024.44% |
| 2 | Arkansas | 6,801 | 27,934 | 310.71% |
| 3 | Louisiana | 6,832 | 23,147 | 238.79% |
| 4 | Kentucky | 6,849 | 23,178 | 238.43% |
| 5 | Ohio | 8,833 | 29,862 | 238.06% |
| 6 | Oklahoma | 7,664 | 25,773 | 236.28% |
| 7 | New Mexico | 8,047 | 27,048 | 236.13% |
| 8 | Kansas | 8,679 | 29,172 | 236.12% |
| 9 | Alabama | 7,426 | 24,953 | 236.03% |
| 10 | Iowa | 7,921 | 26,593 | 235.72% |
Mississippi ranks first with an extraordinary 1,024.44% increase in AI searches per 100,000 residents, leaping from 5,812 in 2025 to 65,356 in 2026. Arkansas follows at a distant second with a 310.71% rise, jumping from 6,801 to 27,934. Louisiana and Kentucky are nearly tied at approximately 238%, while Ohio rounds out the top five at 238.06%.
The remaining states in the top 10, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas, Alabama, and Iowa, all cluster tightly between 235% and 237% growth. Notably, most of these states started from relatively low baseline search volumes in 2025, suggesting that AI awareness is accelerating fastest in regions that were previously less engaged with the technology.
Looking at the study, Nick Footer, CEO of Intuitive Digital®, commented:
“The surge in AI search interest across the United States is unfolding with striking unevenness, revealing not just rapid growth but sharp contrasts in engagement from one region to another. While some states are experiencing explosive increases, led by gains exceeding 1,000%, others are seeing interest contract, underscoring a widening gap in how AI is being explored and adopted. What stands out is that many of the fastest-rising regions are not traditional technology strongholds, but areas where baseline awareness was previously low and is now accelerating quickly. At the same time, the states registering declines highlight that momentum is far from universal, pointing to structural differences in access, exposure, and digital readiness. How this divergence evolves will play a critical role in shaping which regions can fully participate in, and benefit from, the next wave of AI-driven transformation.”
Regional Patterns in AI Search Growth Across the U.S.
AI Curiosity Is Surging Fastest in the South and Midwest, While Tech-Heavy States Show More Moderate Growth
The data reveals a clear regional divide in how quickly AI search interest is growing. Southern states such as Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, and South Carolina dominate the upper ranks, with growth rates consistently above 230%. Midwestern states including Ohio, Kansas, Iowa, Indiana, and Nebraska follow closely, reflecting a broad surge in AI curiosity across the heartland.
By contrast, states traditionally associated with the technology sector, California (170.93%), Washington (170.85%), New York (166.05%), and Massachusetts (125.06%), show more moderate growth rates. These states already had among the highest baseline search volumes in 2025, meaning their populations were already highly engaged with AI-related content. The slower percentage growth reflects a ceiling effect rather than waning interest.
Oregon (125.85%) and Virginia (118.77%) sit at the lower end of the growth spectrum among states that still saw increases, while West Virginia, North Dakota, and Montana stand alone as the only states to record declines.
States With Declining AI Search Interest
Only Three States Recorded a Year-Over-Year Drop in AI-Related Searches
| Rank | State | AI Searches per 100K (2025) | AI Searches per 100K (2026) | % Fall |
| 48 | West Virginia | 5,344 | 2,779 | -47.99% |
| 49 | North Dakota | 7,903 | 3,828 | -51.56% |
| 50 | Montana | 6,836 | 2,896 | -57.63% |
West Virginia, North Dakota, and Montana were the only three states to see AI search interest decline year over year. Montana recorded the steepest drop at -57.63%, falling from 6,836 searches per 100,000 residents to just 2,896. North Dakota dropped by -51.56%, and West Virginia declined by -47.99%. These states had relatively low baseline search volumes to begin with, and their declines suggest that AI engagement has not taken hold uniformly across rural and less densely connected regions.
Methodology
The study analyzed AI-related search data from Google Trends and Google Keyword Planner across all 50 U.S. states. For each state, AI searches per 100,000 residents were calculated for both 2025 and 2026. The year-over-year percentage change was then computed to determine growth or decline. States were ranked from highest percentage increase to steepest decline.
Data Sources
Data Source: Google Trends / Keyword Planner
Research Dataset:
Study By: https://intuitivedigital.com
About Intuitive Digital®
Intuitive Digital® is a Portland, Oregon-based digital marketing agency specializing in purpose-driven organizations, including nonprofits, B Corps, and mission-aligned businesses. The agency produced the Values Economy Scoreboard to map where mission-driven organizational culture is structurally concentrated across the United States.
