Reuters 2026 Digital News Report: 10% Use AI Chatbots for News Weekly, South Korea Leads at 14%
Summary: Based on nearly 100,000 interviews across 48 markets, the Reuters Institute's annual survey shows AI chatbot use for news climbed three percentage points in a single year, with sharp variance by country and age group.
Key Facts
- Global use: 10% weekly (up from 7% in 2025); among under-35s the figure reaches 16%
- Leaders: South Korea and Turkey at 14%, Brazil at 13%
- Laggards: UK at 4%, US at 6% — chatbots remain a niche channel in English-speaking markets
- Supplementary, not primary: Only 1% of respondents name AI as their main news source
Why It Matters
AI chatbots are growing steadily as a news tool but have not displaced traditional outlets — most readers use them to supplement, not replace, other sources. South Korea's top-tier adoption makes it a bellwether market for AI-driven news products. For newsrooms and AI labs alike, the data argues for localized product strategies rather than assuming uniform global uptake.
Further Reading
- 2026 Digital News Report Executive Summary — Reuters Institute
- AI chatbots for news: emerging uses — Reuters Institute