New York – October 12, 2026 -- California investors use AI for investment decisions more than those in any other U.S. state, according to the new Investing.com AI Investing Index. Ohio and Colorado tie for second, followed by Florida and Texas, while Wall Street's home state of New York ranks only 13th.
The index analyzed 12 months of U.S. user activity. It looked at the use of AI for investment research and at engagement with AI-focused stocks, adjusted for audience size in each state.
Utah, Hawaii, Michigan and Minnesota also make the top 10
These four states join the leaders in the top 10, which looks quite different from the traditional centers of American finance. New Jersey lands even lower, at #27.
Florida leads in AI research, Pennsylvania in AI stocks
Among the states studied, Florida records the highest level of AI-assisted investment research. Pennsylvania shows the strongest engagement with AI-focused stocks.
Investors use AI for more than buy-or-sell questions. The activity covers stock statistics, technical analysis, company news, economic events, dividends and financial statements.
62% of retail investors have already used AI
A separate March 2026 survey found that 62% of U.S. retail investors had used AI to help inform an investment decision. More than half expected to use it more.
Thomas Monteiro, Senior Analyst at Investing.com, said AI has opened up information that retail investors previously could not reach. He described the result as "a measurably more sophisticated retail investor." He added that proximity to Wall Street counts for less in research than it used to, and that the top-ranked states tend not to be those with the most financial infrastructure.
The U.S. ranks 19th among 66 countries worldwide
The state ranking is part of a broader global analysis of AI-related investing activity. The United States places 19th among 66 qualifying countries. Italy, Poland, Israel, Chile and Argentina make up the global top five.