AI adoption in Latin America: how many companies pay for AI (2026)

In October 2026, 36.6% of companies in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia paid for at least one AI tool. In 12 months, the share rose 13.5 points, from 23%.

Colombia leads the region, with 41.9%. Brazil has 36.2%, and Mexico, 35.8%. By company size, mid-sized companies lead. And companies that were already paying are spending more: monthly AI spend by the same companies more than quadrupled in a year.

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. A company counts as paying when it pays at least one AI vendor in the month.

Key findings

• In October 2026, 36.6% of companies in the region paid for at least one AI tool; in October 2025, the share was 23%.
• Colombia has the largest share of the three countries, 41.9%; Mexico has 35.8%.
• At mid-sized companies, 42.1% pay for AI, 23% more than at small ones (34.1%).
• Technology is the sector with the most companies paying for AI (59.2%); food has the fewest (25.9%).
• Monthly AI spend by the same companies in the region more than quadrupled between October 2025 and October 2026.

How many companies in Latin America pay for AI?

A little more than a third. In October 2026, 36.6% of companies in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia paid for at least one AI tool on the corporate card. In October 2025, the share was 23%.

From September to October, the share barely moved (+0.6 points). That does not mean fewer companies are paying for AI: the number of companies measured also grows every month.

The count includes any AI tool a company pays for: an assistant subscription such as ChatGPT or Claude, a coding, video or voice tool, or credits to use AI models in its own systems.

Which of the three countries pays the most?

Colombia. It has the largest share of companies paying for AI, 41.9%, and also advanced the most in 12 months (+17.5 points). Brazil (36.2%) is slightly ahead of Mexico (35.8%).

Which companies pay the most for AI?

Mid-sized ones. In the region, 42.1% of mid-sized companies pay for AI, more than large ones (39.8%) and 23% more than small ones (34.1%).

By sector, technology leads, with 59.2% of companies paying for AI, followed by marketing (49.8%) and education (48.4%). Professional services (41.3%), real estate (32.4%) and retail and wholesale (30.5%) come next. Food has the smallest share of the twelve sectors, 25.9%.

Is AI spending still growing?

Yes. Tracking the same companies, monthly AI spend in the region more than quadrupled between October 2025 and October 2026. In Brazil, it more than quadrupled; in Mexico, it more than quadrupled; in Colombia, it grew more than sixfold.

So it is not just that more companies are paying: those that were already paying are now spending more.

How to cite

AI Monitor (Clara), "AI adoption in Latin America: how many companies pay for AI (2026)", updated November 2026. Available at clara.com/ai-monitor.