Voice Search Statistics 2026: Smart Speakers, Voice Assistants and AI
39% of Americans aged 12 and over owned a smart speaker in 2026, about 112 million people, according to Edison Research. That is up from 7% in 2017. A separate Pew Research Center survey puts adult ownership at 35%. Use is lower in Europe. 16.0% of people in the EU used a virtual assistant in 2024, according to Eurostat. No primary source measures what share of searches are made by voice. AI chatbots now reach more people than smart speakers. 49% of US adults use them, according to Pew.
Key statistics
- 39% of Americans aged 12 and over owned a smart speaker in 2026, according to Edison Research.
- US smart speaker ownership grew about 21% a year on average from 2017 to 2026, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Edison Research data.
- 35% of US adults said they had a smart speaker, such as an Amazon Echo or Apple HomePod, in 2026, according to Pew Research Center.
- 16.0% of people in the EU used a virtual assistant, as a smart speaker or an app, in 2024, according to Eurostat.
- AI chatbot use was 14 points ahead of smart speaker ownership among US adults in 2026, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Pew Research Center data.
Smart speaker ownership statistics
Smart speakers are the clearest measure of voice assistant reach, because surveys can ask about them directly. Two large US surveys published in 2026 put ownership between about a third and two in five Americans.
39% of Americans aged 12 and over owned a smart speaker in January 2026, according to Edison Research. That is about 112 million people. Pew Research Center asked US adults the same question a month later and got 35%. The 4-point gap is small given the different ages, panels and question wording.
The UK is ahead. 45% of people aged 16 and over owned a smart speaker in 2025, about 22 million, according to Edison's UK survey. In the same study the US 16+ figure was 35%. Smart speakers are also more common than most other smart home devices in the US. Pew found 18% of adults had an AI-enabled smart doorbell, and 37% had a smartwatch.
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39% of Americans aged 12 and over owned a smart speaker in 2026, according to Edison Research.
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An estimated 112 million Americans aged 12 and over owned a smart speaker in 2026, according to Edison Research.
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35% of US adults said they had a smart speaker, such as an Amazon Echo or Apple HomePod, in 2026, according to Pew Research Center.
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18% of US adults had a smart doorbell that uses AI in 2026, according to Pew Research Center.
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37% of US adults had a smartwatch in 2026, according to Pew Research Center.
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45% of people aged 16 and over in the UK owned a smart speaker in 2025, according to Edison Research.
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An estimated 22 million people aged 16 and over in the UK owned a smart speaker in 2025, according to Edison Research.
| Survey | Population | Year | Own a smart speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edison Research, Infinite Dial | US, aged 12+ | 2026 | 39% |
| Pew Research Center | US adults, 18+ | 2026 | 35% |
| Edison Research, Infinite Dial UK | UK, aged 16+ | 2025 | 45% |
| Edison Research, Infinite Dial UK | US, aged 16+ | 2025 | 35% |
Smart speaker ownership trend over time
Edison Research has asked the same ownership question every year since 2017. The series shows fast early growth, a plateau from 2021 to 2025, and a new rise in 2026.
US smart speaker ownership went from 7% in 2017 to 39% in 2026. By our calculation that is growth of about 21% a year on average, and ownership multiplied by 5.6. Most of the growth came early. Ownership reached 33% by 2021, then barely moved for four years, peaking at 36% in 2023 and dipping to 34% in 2024.
The 4-point rise in 2026 is the biggest yearly gain since 2021. Edison does not give a reason in the slides. The UK grew faster over a shorter period. Ownership there rose 20 points, from 25% in 2021 to 45% in 2025, while the US 16+ figure rose only from 33% to 35%.
Source: Edison Research, The Infinite Dial 2026.
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7% of Americans aged 12 and over owned a smart speaker in 2017, according to Edison Research.
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US smart speaker ownership grew about 21% a year on average from 2017 to 2026, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Edison Research data.
How we calculated it: Compound annual growth rate: (39% in 2026 / 7% in 2017) ^ (1/9) - 1 = 21.0%. Ownership multiplied by 5.6 over 9 years.
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36% of Americans aged 12 and over owned a smart speaker in 2023, then 34% in 2024, according to Edison Research.
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35% of Americans aged 12 and over owned a smart speaker in 2025, according to Edison Research.
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US smart speaker ownership rose 4 percentage points in 2026, the biggest yearly gain since 2021, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Edison Research data.
How we calculated it: 39% in 2026 minus 35% in 2025 = 4 points. Earlier yearly changes: +6 (2021), +2 (2022), +1 (2023), -2 (2024), +1 (2025).
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UK smart speaker ownership rose 20 percentage points from 2021 to 2025, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Edison Research data.
How we calculated it: 45% in 2025 minus 25% in 2021 = 20 points, an 80% relative rise. US 16+ rose from 33% to 35% over the same years.
| Year | Own a smart speaker | Change on previous year |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 7% | n/a |
| 2018 | 18% | +11 pts |
| 2019 | 23% | +5 pts |
| 2020 | 27% | +4 pts |
| 2021 | 33% | +6 pts |
| 2022 | 35% | +2 pts |
| 2023 | 36% | +1 pt |
| 2024 | 34% | -2 pts |
| 2025 | 35% | +1 pt |
| 2026 | 39% | +4 pts |
Voice assistant usage statistics
Owning a smart speaker is not the same as using voice. Most voice commands happen on phones, in cars and on TVs. The last large US study of voice use across all devices is the NPR and Edison Research Smart Audio Report from 2022.
62% of US adults used a voice assistant on some device in 2022, according to NPR and Edison Research. 57% of voice command users used them every day. Smart speaker owners asked their device to do 12.4 tasks a week, up from 7.5 in 2017. By our calculation that is a 65% rise in use per owner, even as new ownership slowed.
These figures are now four years old. NPR has not published a newer edition, so treat them as a baseline rather than a current reading. Phone assistants were close behind speakers, at 10.7 requests a week. Half of smart speaker owners had heard an ad on the device, which matters for brands planning audio campaigns.
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62% of US adults used a voice assistant on any device in 2022, according to NPR and Edison Research.
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57% of US voice command users used voice commands daily in 2022, according to NPR and Edison Research.
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US smart speaker owners asked their device to do an average of 12.4 tasks a week in 2022, up from 7.5 in 2017, according to NPR and Edison Research.
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Weekly tasks per US smart speaker owner rose 65% from 2017 to 2022, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from NPR and Edison Research data.
How we calculated it: 12.4 tasks a week in 2022 / 7.5 in 2017 - 1 = 65.3%.
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US smartphone voice assistant users made an average of 10.7 requests a week in 2022, up from 8.8 in 2020, according to NPR and Edison Research.
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Half of US smart speaker owners had heard an ad on their smart speaker in 2022, according to NPR and Edison Research.
| Measure | Value | Earlier value |
|---|---|---|
| US adults 18+ who use a voice assistant on any device | 62% | n/a |
| Voice command users who use them daily | 57% | n/a |
| Weekly tasks per smart speaker owner | 12.4 | 7.5 (2017) |
| Weekly tasks per smartphone voice assistant user | 10.7 | 8.8 (2020) |
| Smart speaker owners who have heard an ad on the device | 50% | n/a |
Smart speaker ownership by age and income
Pew Research Center's 2026 survey gives the only fresh demographic breakdown. Ownership peaks in middle age and rises steeply with income.
Adults aged 30 to 49 are the most likely to have a smart speaker, at 41%. That is 17 points above adults aged 65 and over, at 24%. Younger adults are not the leaders here. Only 33% of 18 to 29 year olds have one.
Income matters more than age. 46% of upper-income adults have a smart speaker against 27% of lower-income adults, a ratio of 1.7 by our calculation. Pew found little difference between men (34%) and women (35%).
Source: Pew Research Center, Americans and AI 2026.
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41% of US adults aged 30 to 49 had a smart speaker in 2026, the highest of any age group, according to Pew Research Center.
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33% of US adults aged 18 to 29 had a smart speaker in 2026, according to Pew Research Center.
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24% of US adults aged 65 and over had a smart speaker in 2026, according to Pew Research Center.
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US adults aged 30 to 49 were 17 points more likely than those 65 and over to have a smart speaker in 2026, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Pew Research Center data.
How we calculated it: 41% (ages 30 to 49) minus 24% (ages 65+) = 17 points.
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46% of upper-income US adults had a smart speaker in 2026, against 27% of lower-income adults, according to Pew Research Center.
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Upper-income US adults were 1.7 times as likely as lower-income adults to have a smart speaker in 2026, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Pew Research Center data.
How we calculated it: 46% (upper income) / 27% (lower income) = 1.70. Gap of 19 percentage points.
| Group | Have a smart speaker |
|---|---|
| All US adults | 35% |
| Ages 18-29 | 33% |
| Ages 30-49 | 41% |
| Ages 50-64 | 36% |
| Ages 65+ | 24% |
| Lower income | 27% |
| Middle income | 37% |
| Upper income | 46% |
Voice assistant use in Europe
Eurostat asks people in every EU country whether they used a virtual assistant, either a smart speaker or an app, in the last 3 months. It is the only official source on voice assistant use.
16.0% of people in the EU used a virtual assistant in 2024, according to Eurostat, and 19.3% used a connected home audio system or smart speaker. Use rose from 11.4% in 2020 and 13.4% in 2022 on the older question, but Eurostat changed the wording in 2024, so the trend is indicative only.
The spread between countries is wide. Ireland leads at 41.2%, 2.6 times the EU average by our calculation, followed by the Netherlands and Spain. In Bulgaria the figure is 1.3%. Europe as a whole sits well below the US. Comparing Edison's US ownership rate with Eurostat's EU smart speaker figure, the US rate is about twice as high, though the two surveys use different ages, years and questions.
Source: Eurostat, isoc_iiot_use.
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16.0% of people in the EU used a virtual assistant, as a smart speaker or an app, in 2024, according to Eurostat.
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19.3% of people in the EU used an internet-connected home audio system or smart speaker in 2024, according to Eurostat.
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41.2% of people in Ireland used a virtual assistant in 2024, the highest share in the EU, according to Eurostat.
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Virtual assistant use in Ireland was 2.6 times the EU average in 2024, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Eurostat data.
How we calculated it: Ireland 41.21% / EU27 16.0% = 2.58.
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1.3% of people in Bulgaria used a virtual assistant in 2024, the lowest share in the EU, according to Eurostat.
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13.4% of people in the EU used a virtual assistant, as a smart speaker or an app, in 2022, according to Eurostat.
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The US smart speaker ownership rate was about twice the EU smart speaker use rate in 2026, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Edison Research and Eurostat data.
How we calculated it: Edison US 12+ ownership 39% (2026) / Eurostat EU share using connected home audio or smart speakers 19.3% (2024) = 2.0. Different years, ages and questions, so treat as a rough gap.
| Country | Used a virtual assistant |
|---|---|
| Ireland | 41.2% |
| Netherlands | 29.1% |
| Spain | 26.9% |
| Austria | 22.1% |
| Italy | 18.1% |
| Germany | 17.9% |
| France | 16.7% |
| EU27 | 16.0% |
| Poland | 4.2% |
| Bulgaria | 1.3% |
Voice assistants vs AI chatbots
The phrase "voice search" now overlaps with AI assistants. Chatbots answer many of the questions people used to ask a speaker or a search box.
AI chatbots have overtaken smart speakers. 49% of US adults use AI chatbots, against 35% who have a smart speaker, a 14-point lead in the same Pew survey. 42% of adults use chatbots to search for information, and 60% read the AI summaries at the top of search results. Edison's figures point the same way. 57% of Americans aged 12 and over use at least one generative AI brand.
Among smart speakers, Amazon leads. In the UK, 37% of people aged 16 and over own an Alexa speaker, against 16% for Google Home and 5% for Apple HomePod. By our calculation about 82% of UK smart speaker owners have an Alexa device. For the wider shift in search, see our Google search statistics and AI chatbot market share.
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49% of US adults said they use AI chatbots in 2026, according to Pew Research Center.
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AI chatbot use was 14 points ahead of smart speaker ownership among US adults in 2026, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Pew Research Center data.
How we calculated it: 49% use AI chatbots minus 35% have a smart speaker = 14 points, same survey.
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42% of US adults used AI chatbots to search for information in 2026, according to Pew Research Center.
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60% of US adults said they read AI summaries at the top of search engine results in 2026, according to Pew Research Center.
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57% of Americans aged 12 and over used at least one generative AI brand in 2026, according to Edison Research.
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93% of Americans aged 12 and over were familiar with at least one generative AI brand in 2026, according to Edison Research.
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37% of people aged 16 and over in the UK owned an Amazon Alexa smart speaker in 2025, according to Edison Research.
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16% of people aged 16 and over in the UK owned a Google Home smart speaker in 2025, and 5% an Apple HomePod, according to Edison Research.
| Measure | Population | Share | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Familiar with at least one generative AI brand | US, aged 12+ | 93% | Edison Research |
| Read AI summaries in search results | US adults | 60% | Pew Research Center |
| Use at least one generative AI brand | US, aged 12+ | 57% | Edison Research |
| Use AI chatbots | US adults | 49% | Pew Research Center |
| Use AI chatbots to search for information | US adults | 42% | Pew Research Center |
| Own a smart speaker | US, aged 12+ | 39% | Edison Research |
| Have a smart speaker | US adults | 35% | Pew Research Center |
How voice search is measured, and its limits
No primary source measures what share of searches are spoken. Every number on this page measures device ownership or self-reported use instead.
Edison Research surveyed 2,050 Americans aged 12 and over in January 2026, half from the probability-based SSRS panel and half from a non-probability sample. Its UK study surveyed 1,313 people aged 16 and over in March 2025 by phone and online. Edison's figures are published only as presentation slides. Pew Research Center surveyed 5,119 US adults on its probability-based American Trends Panel from 17 to 23 February 2026. Eurostat's figures come from the official EU household ICT survey, and cover use in the last 3 months rather than ownership.
The often repeated claim that half of all searches would be voice searches by 2020 has no primary data behind it, so we do not use it. Smart speaker ownership is not the same as voice search. Owners use speakers for music, timers and smart home control as well as questions. Google, Apple and Amazon do not publish voice query volumes. The NPR and Edison Smart Audio Report last ran in 2022, so all-device voice use figures are older than the ownership data.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of people use voice search in 2026?
No primary source measures voice search directly. The closest measures are ownership and use. 39% of Americans aged 12 and over owned a smart speaker in 2026, according to Edison Research. In 2022, 62% of US adults used a voice assistant on any device, according to NPR and Edison Research.
How many people own a smart speaker in the US vs the UK and Europe?
About 112 million Americans aged 12 and over, or 39%, owned a smart speaker in 2026. In the UK, 45% of people aged 16 and over, about 22 million, owned one in 2025. In the EU, 19.3% of people used a smart speaker or connected home audio system in 2024, according to Eurostat.
Is smart speaker ownership still growing compared with last year?
Yes. US ownership rose from 35% in 2025 to 39% in 2026, the biggest yearly gain since 2021, according to Edison Research data. Ownership had been flat at 33% to 36% from 2021 to 2025.
Who uses smart speakers the most?
In the US, adults aged 30 to 49 (41%) and upper-income adults (46%) are the most likely to have a smart speaker, according to Pew Research Center. Only 24% of adults aged 65 and over and 27% of lower-income adults have one.
Are AI chatbots replacing voice assistants?
AI chatbots now reach more Americans. 49% of US adults used AI chatbots in 2026, against 35% with a smart speaker, according to Pew Research Center. 42% of adults use chatbots to search for information.
Which country uses voice assistants the most in Europe?
Ireland. 41.2% of people there used a virtual assistant in 2024, according to Eurostat, against an EU average of 16.0%. The Netherlands (29.1%) and Spain (26.9%) follow. Bulgaria is lowest at 1.3%.
Sources
- Edison Research, The Infinite Dial 2026 (presentation, with SiriusXM Media), March 2026, accessed 1 November 2026. Link · Saved data copy
- Pew Research Center, Americans and AI 2026: Chatbots, Smart Devices and Views on Impact (full report PDF), 17 June 2026, accessed 1 November 2026. Link · Saved data copy
- Eurostat, Internet of Things - use (isoc_iiot_use), dataset updated 17 April 2026, accessed 1 November 2026. Link · Saved data copy · Licence: CC BY 4.0
- Edison Research, The Infinite Dial UK 2025 (presentation, with AdsWizz and SiriusXM Media), May 2025, accessed 1 November 2026. Link · Saved data copy
- NPR and Edison Research, NPR & Edison Research: Smart Speaker Ownership Reaches 35% of Americans (The Smart Audio Report 2022), 16 June 2022, accessed 1 November 2026. Link · Saved data copy
Changes to this page
- : Page published with Edison Research's Infinite Dial 2026 and Infinite Dial UK 2025, Pew Research Center's Americans and AI 2026, Eurostat's 2024 Internet of Things data and the NPR and Edison Smart Audio Report 2022.