Stanford AI Index

AI Spread Faster Than the Internet – But 62% of Users Got Stuck at the Start

In April 2026, Stanford HAI released its ninth annual AI Index Report – the most comprehensive overview of the state of the AI industry. The headlines are predictably optimistic: corporate adoption reached 88%, generative AI outpaced the internet in diffusion speed, and the consumer value of GenAI tools is estimated at $172 billion annually. But look behind the numbers – and a familiar problem emerges.