AI adoption by industry in Latin America (2026)

Technology is the sector with the most companies paying for AI in Latin America: 59.2% in October 2026. Marketing (49.8%) and education (48.4%) come next.

At the other end, food has the smallest share, 25.9%. In every sector, the share of companies paying for AI rose over 12 months, and financial services advanced the most.

The figures come from Clara's AI Monitor, which tracks monthly spending on AI vendors by more than 45,000 companies that use Clara's corporate card in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia. Each company is classified by the sector it operates in.

Key findings

• In October 2026, 59.2% of technology companies in the region paid for at least one AI tool.
• Financial services went from 29.2% to 46.5% between October 2025 and October 2026 (+17.3 points), the biggest gain of any sector.
• Education (48.4%) and marketing (49.8%) follow, also above the regional average.
• Food (25.9%) and manufacturing (26.6%) have the smallest shares.
• The regional average is 36.6%.

Which sectors use AI the most in Latin America?

Technology, by a wide margin. In October 2026, 59.2% of technology companies paid for at least one AI tool. Then come marketing (49.8%), education (48.4%) and financial services (46.5%).

All four are above the regional average of 36.6%.

The gap between the top and bottom sectors barely changed in a year. Between technology and food, it was 34.2 points in October 2025 and 33.3 points in October 2026.

Which sector advanced the most in 12 months?

Financial services. The share of companies in the sector paying for AI went from 29.2% to 46.5% between October 2025 and October 2026 (+17.3 points). That narrowed its gap with the top three, though it still ranks fourth.

Education gained 16.1 points over the period, and marketing gained 15.7 points.

How is each sector doing?

AI in education

In education, 48.4% of companies paid for AI in October 2026, the third-largest share of any sector and above the regional average of 36.6%.

AI in marketing

In marketing, 49.8% of companies paid for AI in October 2026; a year earlier, the share was 34.1%.

AI in manufacturing

In manufacturing, 26.6% of companies paid for AI in October 2026, compared with 14.1% a year earlier.

AI in retail

In retail and wholesale, 30.5% of companies paid for AI in October 2026; a year earlier, the share was 17.1%.

AI in health

In health and wellness, 29% of companies paid for AI in October 2026, one of the smallest shares of any sector. A year earlier, it was 21.7%.

AI in logistics

Logistics and transport is near the bottom: 26.7% of companies paid for AI in October 2026. A year earlier, the share was 13.1%.

What about Brazil, Mexico and Colombia?

In Brazil, technology also leads (59.6%), followed by financial services (47.6%) and education (47.4%). Logistics has the smallest share, 20.5%.

In Mexico, technology leads (55.4%), followed by marketing (52.3%) and education (48.1%). Manufacturing has the smallest share, 25.3%.

In Colombia, education (62.5%) and technology (62.1%) are practically tied at the top, ahead of marketing (58.5%). Tourism has the smallest share, 25.8%.

How to cite

AI Monitor (Clara), "AI adoption by industry in Latin America (2026)", updated November 2026. Available at clara.com/ai-monitor.