States Lead in AI Search Interest Per Capita
A VIP-Grinders study ranks US states by AI-related search volume relative to population.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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VIP-Grinders published a study ranking US states by AI-related search volume per 100,000 residents, with Wyoming placing first at 4,681 searches annually. The study estimated about 1.13 million AI-related searches nationwide each year.
Why it matters
The ranking offers a snapshot of where residents are seeking information about artificial intelligence, a topic spanning privacy, employment, healthcare and AI safety. Per-capita figures reveal interest patterns that raw totals obscure, since California leads in total volume but ranks 25th after adjusting for population.
The study analysed 47 AI-related search terms using Google Ads Keyword Planner, with Vermont recording 4,292 and Alaska 3,599.7 searches per 100,000 residents annually. The term "AI in healthcare" is searched about 21,400 times monthly, while the study does not specify how search volume was weighted across terms.
The players
VIP-Grinders
VIP-Grinders is an online publication that produces data-driven rankings and studies on consumer and digital trends.
The details
Researchers measured annual AI-related search volume for each state using Google Ads Keyword Planner and normalized results to residents per 100,000. North Dakota (3,466) and South Dakota (3,113) followed Wyoming, Vermont and Alaska in the top five per-capita rankings.
Timeline
The study counts AI-related searches on an annual basis.
"AI in healthcare" search volume is tracked monthly.
The Tech Race
The study's per-capita approach applies Google Ads Keyword Planner data, a standard tool for measuring search demand, to map public curiosity about AI across states. The rankings show interest concentrated in smaller, less populous states rather than the tech hubs that dominate raw search totals.
Readers researching AI tools or career changes can use state-level interest data to gauge local demand for AI-related information and services. Those comparing search trends for their own work can apply the study's per-capita method to track interest in specific AI topics such as healthcare or privacy.
The takeaway
Per-capita measures reveal where interest is strongest relative to population, which total search counts can hide. Readers tracking AI trends should compare both views before drawing conclusions about adoption or demand.
Further reading
Explore more on Artificial Intelligence to see how public interest in the technology is shaping coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The News International.
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