B2B buyers using AI for research: 2026 statistics

• 51%

  of B2B software buyers start research in an AI chatbot more often than in Google, up from 29% a year earlier. G2 surveyed 1,076 buyers in March 2026

  G2, 15 Apr 2026Copy citationEmbed

• 69%

  of those buyers chose a different vendor than planned because a chatbot recommended it

  G2, 15 Apr 2026Copy citationEmbed

• 63%

  of B2B software research done in chatbots happens in ChatGPT

  Demand Gen Report, 4 May 2026Copy citationEmbed

• 94%

  of B2B buyers use large language models in their buying process

  6sense, Nov 2025Copy citationEmbed

• 61%

  of the way through the buying journey is when buyers first contact a seller, down from about 69% in 2024

  6sense, Nov 2025Copy citationEmbed

• 45%

  of B2B buyers used GenAI during a recent purchase, mainly to gather vendor and product information. Gartner surveyed 645 buyers in August and September 2025

  Gartner, 20 May 2026Copy citationEmbed

• 51%

  of buyers in the same survey said they are more likely to meet misleading information from GenAI, against 49% from a sales rep

  Gartner, 20 May 2026Copy citationEmbed

These figures come from AI Search Statistics 2026: ChatGPT, AI Overviews and Clicks, which puts them in context.