Accuracy Beats Price: What Users Actually Want From AI Tools in 2026

Most people who use AI tools would switch to a better one for free. That is one of the sharper findings from Lorka's State of AI 2026 report, which surveyed 1,000 US adults through OnePoll between June 4-9, 2026. The data paints a picture of an AI user base that is still forming habits, still cautious about privacy, and increasingly clear on what they value: reliability over novelty.

Only 35% of respondents reported regular AI use, a figure that suggests broad adoption is still ahead. Among regular users, the average person runs two AI tools simultaneously.

Key Takeaways

• Accuracy and reliability rank first at 48%: Nearly half of regular AI users cite accuracy and reliability as their top priority when choosing a tool, outpacing ease of use (40%) and privacy protection (35%). Cost ranked lower, a signal that organizations deploying AI internally should not optimize for cheapness at the expense of dependability.
• 56% use only free tools: More than half of regular AI users have never paid for an AI subscription, suggesting the monetization window for AI products remains narrow. Free-tier quality will continue to drive first impressions for the majority of potential customers.
• Non-adoption is a knowledge and trust problem: Among people who do not use AI tools, 21% say they lack the knowledge to get started and 20% cite privacy concerns. Only 3% say cost is the barrier. The implication: onboarding quality and transparent privacy practices matter more than pricing for expanding the market.

For teams evaluating AI tools or building AI-powered products, the Lorka data makes the hierarchy clear: get the output right first, make it easy to use second, protect user data third, and compete on price last.

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