Art Basel/UBS Report: AI Use Among Wealthy Collectors Jumps from 4% to 22%
Today, the fifth edition of the Art Basel & UBS Survey of Global Collecting, written by Clare McAndrew, has been published, revealing an increase in the adoption of AI among wealthy art collectors. The survey, which gathered insights from 3,100 collectors across 10 different markets, indicates that 22 percent now utilize AI for collecting guidance, a significant rise from 4 percent in 2024. A positive perception of AI for aspects like discoverability, provenance, and pricing is held by two-thirds of respondents. Family influence remains the primary factor in art acquisition, noted by 28 percent. Additionally, nearly two-thirds favor private collections, and 73 percent engage in extensive research before making purchases. Average fine art expenditure climbed to $124,265 in 2025, with Gen Z spending the most at $347,460.
Key facts
- The fifth Art Basel & UBS Survey of Global Collecting was authored by Clare McAndrew and surveyed 3,100 wealthy collectors across 10 key markets.
- AI and app use for collecting advice rose from 4 percent in 2024 to 22 percent in the latest survey.
- Two-thirds of respondents believe AI improves artist and artwork discoverability.
- Family influence was the top entry point into collecting, cited by 28 percent overall and 40 percent of Gen Z.
- Painting was the most common first purchase category at 43 percent, followed by sculpture at 25 percent and photography at 17 percent.
- Nearly two-thirds of collectors prefer to keep their holdings private, with only 10 percent seeking wide recognition.
- Average fine art spending across all age groups reached $124,265 in 2025, a 13 percent increase from 2024; Gen Z averaged $347,460, up 19 percent.
- Only 1 percent of collectors bought works priced above $1 million, but Gen Z made up 13 percent of those buyers.
Entities
Artists
- Clare McAndrew
- Paul Donovan
- Benoît Piéron
Institutions
- Art Basel
- UBS
- UBS Global Wealth Management
Locations
- Basel
- Switzerland
- Paris
- France