This page compiles published data on AI in performance marketing, drawing on 2026 PPC benchmarks from SearchLab, Digital Applied, PPC Chief, and ALM Corp’s State of PPC survey (1,306 professionals), plus Google’s own performance disclosures.
The AI Behavior Index is the research arm of OneChat AI, an integrated multi-model AI platform. We compile and analyze data from primary research sources to make AI adoption and market trends more accessible to journalists, researchers, and decision-makers.
Why "86% adoption" and "78% of spend" both appear: they measure different things — the share of advertisers who have turned on Smart Bidding (86%) versus the share of total ad spend flowing through automated strategies (78%). Performance-lift figures (~14% more conversions) are largely Google or vendor case-study numbers and are self-reported, so we label them directional rather than independent.
Methodology notes: each chart cites its source. Usage figures ("75% use genAI for ad copy") are multiple-select survey responses and don’t sum to 100%. Performance-lift numbers come from platform and agency case studies with selection bias toward successful implementations; real-world results vary by vertical, budget, and data quality. The control/measurement concerns are from practitioner surveys.
Sources used on this page:
- BizIQ — PPC Statistics 2026 (SearchLab: Smart Bidding 86%, PMax 72%)
- Digital Applied — PPC Statistics 2026 (78% of spend automated)
- UpROAS — Google Ads Statistics 2026 (Google performance-lift figures)
- ALM Corp — State of PPC 2026 (1,306 practitioners; measurement difficulty)
- PPC Chief — PPC Statistics 2026 (genAI usage; control concerns)
Corrections or suggestions: research@aibehaviorindex.org