What Brazilians Look for About AI: Data from Google Trends 2026

In 2024, Brazilians were searching for “what is artificial intelligence” on Google. In 2026, they search for "AI that summarizes PDF", "how to use Claude Code" and "AI agents for marketing". This change is not subtle -- it is a complete transformation in the way the country relates to artificial intelligence.

In this article, we will analyze real data from Google Trends to understand what Brazilians are searching for about AI, how these searches have evolved in the last two years and, most importantly,what opportunities does this data revealfor those who create content, sell digital products or work in marketing.

All data was extracted from Google Trends Brazil, complemented by public reports from Coursera, McKinsey and market analyses. The numbers tell a clear story: Brazil stopped being curious about AI and became an active user.

1. The evolution of searches: from “what is AI” to “AI that summarizes PDF”

Google Trends allows you to view the evolution of interest in any term over time. When we analyze the terms related to artificial intelligence in Brazil between 2024 and 2026, the pattern is unmistakable: searches have migrated from generic concepts to practical applications.

2024: the year of curiosity

In 2024, the most searched terms by Brazilians about AI were fundamentally educational. People wanted to understand the basics:

• "What is artificial intelligence"-- term with consistent volume throughout the year
• "ChatGPT what is"-- reflection of the ChatGPT boom that started in 2023
• "AI meaning"-- basic definition searches
• "Artificial intelligence examples"-- people trying to understand applications
• "AI will replace my job"-- fear was the dominant feeling

The 2024 pattern was typical of a technology in the awareness phase. People heard about AI in the news, saw colleagues using ChatGPT and wanted to understand what it was all about. Most searches had no intended use -- they were pure curiosity.

2025: the transition to practical use

In 2025, something changed. Generic terms began to lose relative volume and were replaced by searches with practical intent:

• "How to use ChatGPT"replaced "what is ChatGPT"
• "AI to create image"-- specific tools
• "AI to write text"-- professional application
• "Artificial intelligence course"-- investment in training
• "Free AI"-- search for accessibility

The transition from "what it is" to "how to use it" indicates that the Brazilian public has moved from the discovery phase to the adoption phase. People already knew what AI was -- now they wanted to put it to work.

2026: the era of specific tools

By 2026, Google Trends shows a complete fragmentation of interest. Instead of looking for "artificial intelligence" as a generic term, Brazilians look for specific tools, use cases and results:

• "AI that summarizes PDF"-- ultra-specific use case
• "AI that makes music"-- Suno, Udio and similar
• "Claude Code tutorial"-- tool specifies by name
• "IDE Cursor"-- AI code editor
• "AI Agents"-- advanced concept entering the mainstream
• "Vibe coding"-- new development todigm
• "AI for digital marketing"-- segmented professional application

This three-step evolution -- curiosity, adoption, specialization -- is the same pattern we saw with the internet in the 2000s and with smartphones in the 2010s. The difference is speed: what took a decade with the internet happened in two years with AI.

2. AI courses led searches in 2024 (and what changed afterwards)

One of the most striking phenomena of 2024 on Google Trends Brazil was the explosion of searches for AI education. Terms such as "AI course", "artificial intelligence course", "learn AI" and "AI certification" have reached historic peaks.

The reason was clear: with AI dominating the headlines, professionals in all areas felt the pressure to update. The narrative "those who don't learn AI will be left behind" was everywhere -- LinkedIn, social networks, news portals.

The numbers for 2024

Search term	Peak Google Trends (0-100)	Peak period
"artificial intelligence course"	92	March 2024
"online AI course"	78	February 2024
"learn artificial intelligence"	71	April 2024
"IA certification"	65	May 2024
"MBA artificial intelligence"	54	March 2024

What changed in 2025-2026

Interest in generic AI courses has waned, but not because people have stopped learning. What happened was ademand specialization. Instead of “AI course”, searches migrated to:

• "Prompt engineering course"-- specific skill
• "How to use Claude Code"-- specific tool
• "Cursor IDE Course"-- niche tool
• "Automation with AI"-- practical application
• "AI for programming"-- intersection of areas

The lesson for content creators is clear: generic “introduction to AI” courses have already become saturated. The market now demands specialized content, focused on concrete tools and applications.

3. Enrollments in AI grew 866% per year: data from Coursera

Google Trends data is confirmed when we cross-reference it with data from education platforms. Coursera, the world's largest online course platform, reported that enrollment in courses related to artificial intelligence grew866% per yearglobally in the last two years.

This number is not a typing error. Growth was almost 9x per year, driven by:

• Professionals in non-technical areasseeking AI training for their functions (marketing, sales, HR, finance)
• DevelopersMigrating to specializations in AI and machine learning
• University studentscomplementing the curriculum with practical courses
• Professionals in career transitionbetting on AI as a target area

Brazil in the global context

Brazil is one of the fastest growing markets in digital education. Data from the Brazilian Association of Distance Education (ABED) indicates that the country already has more than 20 million students taking online courses, and AI has become the number one topic in demand. Google Trends confirms: Brazil is consistently among the 10 countries with the highest volume of searches for AI terms in Portuguese and English combined.

For those who produce content or sell digital products in Brazil, these numbers represent a rapidly expanding market. The demand for practical AI training is not a fad -- it is a restructuring of the job market.

4. Trending terms 2026: Claude Code, Cursor, Copilot, vibe coding

If you want to understand where AI is going in Brazil, just look at the terms that grow the most on Google Trends in 2026. They are not generic terms -- they are the names of tools, technical concepts and new todigms that are entering the popular vocabulary.

Claude Code

The term "Claude Code" practically did not exist on Google Trends Brazil before mid-2025. In 2026, there was growth classified as a "breakout" by Google Trends, indicating growth of more than 5,000% in relation to the previous period.

Claude Code is a command line tool fromAnthropicwhich allows you to use artificial intelligence directly in the terminal, reading and editing files, executing commands and building projects. It represents a new category of AI tool that goes beyond the traditional chatbot.

IDE Cursor

Cursor is a code editor that integrates AI natively. On Google Trends Brazil, the term "Cursor IDE" has grown consistently since the second half of 2025, with peaks correlated to the release of new versions. In 2026, with the launch of Cursor 3 and its Background Agents, interest reached new records.

GitHub Copilot

The Copilot is the veteran of the category. Launched by GitHub in 2021, it already had an established presence on Google Trends. In 2026, the volume of searches remained stable, but the relative share fell with the entry of competitors such as Cursor and Claude Code. Copilot still leads in absolute volume in Brazil, but the growth trend favors new entrants.

Vibe coding

Perhaps the most curious term of 2026. "Vibe coding" describes the practice of programming by describing what you want in natural language and letting the AI ​​write the code. The term was popularized by Andrej Karpathy (co-founder ofOpenAIand former director of AI at Tesla) and exploded on global and Brazilian Google Trends.

In Brazil, "vibe coding" appeared for the first time with measurable volume in January 2026 and already accumulates thousands of monthly searches. It is a sign that programming with AI is no longer a niche for early adopters and is becoming mainstream.

AI Agents

The concept of "AI agents" -- autonomous systems that perform complex tasks in multiple steps -- is the most searched technical topic of 2026. The term "AI agents" on Google Trends Brazil grew by more than 400% between January 2025 and March 2026.

This reflects the fact that all major technology companies (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Microsoft) launched products focused on agents in the first quarter of 2026. The Brazilian consumer is following these trends in almost real time.

Term	Google Trends Trend (2025 vs 2026)	Classification
Claude Code	+5,000%	Sudden increase
Vibe coding	+3,200%	Sudden increase
AI Agents	+420%	Strong growth
IDE Cursor	+280%	Strong growth
GitHub Copilot	+12%	Stable
ChatGPT	-8%	Stable (audience)

5. How to use Google Trends to find content opportunities

If you're a content creator, marketer or digital entrepreneur, Google Trends is one of the most underutilized tools at your disposal. It shows, in real time, what people are searching for -- and more importantly, what isgrowingbefore saturating.

Step 1: identify terms with sudden growth

Accesstrends.google.com.brand search for a broad term in your area (e.g. "artificial intelligence"). Scroll to the "Related Queries" section and filter by "Trending" instead of "Top." The terms marked "Sudden increase" are the ones that grow the most proportionally -- and that's where the opportunity lies.

Step 2: Validate the volume with complementary tools

Google Trends shows relative interest (0-100), not absolute volume. To estimate real volume, cross-reference the data with Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest or Ahrefs. A term with a "sudden increase" in Trends and 1,000+ monthly searches in Keyword Planner is a concrete opportunity.

Step 3: analyze seasonality

Expand the period to 5 years. Some terms have seasonal peaks (e.g. "AI course" rises in January and August, back-to-school months). Others have sustained growth. Prefer those with sustained growth for evergreen content.

Step 4: Compare competing terms

Use the Google Trends comparison function to place up to 5 terms side by side. This reveals which approach is in greater demand. For example: "AI course" vs "AI tutorial" vs "how to learn AI" can have very different volumes.

Step 5: filter by region

Google Trends allows you to see data by Brazilian state. This is valuable for geo-targeted paid media campaigns and localized content. Sao Paulo leads in absolute volume, but states in the Northeast often lead in percentage growth -- indicating expanding markets.

6. Top AI keywords in Brazil by region

Brazil is not a homogeneous market, and Google Trends data confirms this. Interest in AI varies significantly across regions, both in volume and the specific terms searched.

Southeast: volume and specialization

Sao Paulo is the state with the highest absolute volume of AI searches, followed by Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais. The most searched terms in the Southeast tend to be more specific and technical:

• "Claude Code" -- concentrates more than 45% of national searches in SP
• "Cursor IDE" -- SP and RJ dominate
• "Machine learning Python" -- strong technical searches in the Southeast
• "AI for marketing" -- SP leads by a large margin

South: focus on development

Parana, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul show a profile strongly focused on software development. The tech ecosystem of Florianopolis, Curitiba and Porto Alegre is reflected in the searches:

• "GitHub Copilot" -- South has the second highest concentration per capita
• "Vibe coding" -- growth above the national average
• "Startups IA Brasil" -- strong entrepreneurial interest

Northeast: accelerated growth

The Northeast is the region withhighest percentage growthin AI searches. Pernambuco, Bahia and Ceara lead the region. The most searched terms indicate an audience in an accelerated adoption phase:

• "Free AI course" -- strong demand for accessibility
• "ChatGPT in Portuguese" -- practicality as a priority
• "AI to create content" -- focus on professional application
• "How to make money with AI" -- entrepreneurial intention

Midwest and North: unexplored opportunity

Goias, Distrito Federal and Amazonas stand out in these regions. The DF has a search profile similar to the Southeast (more technical), while Goias and Amazonas show growing interest in AI applied to agribusiness and commerce.

Region	Most searched term	Annual growth	Dominant profile
Southeast	Claude Code/Cursor IDE	+180%	Specialized/technical
Sul	GitHub Copilot/vibe coding	+160%	Development
North East	Free AI course	+320%	Education/adoption
Midwest	AI for business	+210%	Commercial application
North	ChatGPT how to use	+280%	Early adoption

This regional data is valuable for ad segmentation. If you sell an AI product in Portuguese, campaigns in the Northeast and North will likely have lower CPCs and higher growth rates than in the Southeast, where competition is more intense.

7. Comparison of interest: ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini in Brazil

One of the most revealing Google Trends comparisons is putting the three main AI platforms side by side: ChatGPT (OpenAI), Claude (Anthropic) and Gemini (Google).

Sheer volume: ChatGPT still dominates

In terms of absolute search volume in Brazil, ChatGPT continues to be the clear leader. In March 2026, on a Google Trends scale of 0-100:

• ChatGPT:100 (reference)
• Gemini AI: 18
• Claude IA: 12

ChatGPT benefits from the first-mover factor. It was the first AI chatbot to go viral in Brazil (end of 2022) and became synonymous with AI for the general public -- just as "Uber" became synonymous with app-based transportation.

Percentage growth: Claude leads

When we analyze thegrowth rate(and not the absolute volume), the scenario changes completely:

• Claude:+340% annual growth in searches in Brazil
• Gemini:+85% annual growth
• ChatGPT:-8% (slight drop, natural stabilization after the peak)

Claude's growth in Brazil is directly correlated to the launch of Claude Code and the Pro/Max plans. The Brazilian technical audience (developers, digital marketing professionals, content creators) has migrated or diversified their use of AI, and Claude has positioned itself as the preferred alternative for professional work.

Related searches reveal different intent

The terms associated with each platform on Google Trends tell different stories about the audience:

Platform	Most searched associated terms	dominant intention
ChatGPT	"ChatGPT login", "ChatGPT free", "ChatGPT in Portuguese"	Casual/general use
Claude	"Claude Code", "Claude API", "Claude vs ChatGPT"	Professional/technical use
Gemini	"Gemini Google", "Gemini gratis", "Gemini vs ChatGPT"	Curiosity/comparison

This data is extremely valuable for product positioning. The ChatGPT audience seeks accessibility and ease. Claude's audience seeksproductivityand professional tools. The Gemini audience seeks comparison, indicating that it has not yet made up its mind.

What to expect in the second half of 2026

Based on the trajectory of Google Trends, the projection is that Claude will continue to grow in the Brazilian professional segment while ChatGPT maintains leadership in the mass market. Gemini has growth potential because of its integration with the Google ecosystem (Workspace, Android, Search), but Google has historically had difficulty converting awareness into adoption of AI products in Brazil.

The most likely scenario for the end of 2026 is a healthy fragmentation: ChatGPT for general use, Claude for professional work, Gemini integrated into Google tools. There will be no "single winner" -- each platform serves a different profile.

8. What this means for content creators and professionals

Analyzing Google Trends is not an academic exercise. Every piece of data we saw in this article points to concrete opportunities. Let's translate insights into practical actions.

For content creators

• Ditch generic AI content."What is artificial intelligence" has already saturated. Focus on specific tools (Claude Code, Cursor, Copilot) and concrete use cases ("how to use AI to create landing pages")
• Create content in Portuguese about new tools.Terms such as "Claude Code tutorial", "Cursor 3 review" and "vibe coding how to start" have growing demand and little competition in Portuguese
• Use regional data to segment.If you make paid content, advertising "AI course" in the Northeast will probably have a CPC 40-60% lower than in Sao Paulo, with much higher interest growth
• Post quickly when a term appears like "surge."On Google Trends, terms with this ranking usually take 3-6 months to saturate. Whoever publishes first dominates the SERPs

For marketing professionals

• Monitor AI terms on Google Trends weekly.Set up alerts for “artificial intelligence,” “AI marketing,” and the names of the tools you use. When a spike happens, adapt your social media and blog content
• Use comparison terms for positioning.If you sell a service that uses AI, find out what term your audience searches for (ChatGPT? Claude? Generative AI?) and use that vocabulary in your communication
• Invest in practical educational content.Data shows that “how to use” surpasses “what is” in 2026. Tutorials, step-by-step guides and practical demonstrations perform better than conceptual content

For digital entrepreneurs

• Niche AI ​​products sell.Skills for Claude Code, prompt templates, courses on specific tools -- all of this has proven demand on Google Trends and relatively low competition
• The Brazilian AI market is in the growth phase, not maturity.This means getting in now is “early enough” to build authority. In 2-3 years, competition will be dramatically greater
• Prioritize tools with sudden growth.Claude Code, vibe coding and AI agents are the terms with the greatest momentum. Creating content and products around these themes is a bet with favorable data