AI use approaches 20% among U.S. businesses
Nearly one in five U.S. businesses is using artificial intelligence for at least one business function, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Business Trends and Outlook Survey found that AI use ranged from 17% to 20% between December 2025 and early May 2026. For the survey period ending May 3, 19.8% of businesses reported using AI during the previous two weeks.
Businesses expect adoption to continue growing. Between 20% and 23% of respondents said they anticipated using AI within the next six months, several percentage points above the share reporting current use.
That projection comes directly from businesses rather than from a Census economic model. The survey asks businesses whether they used AI in any business function during the previous two weeks. It then asks whether they think the business will use AI in any of its functions during the next six months.
The current questions cover AI used throughout a company, including areas such as marketing, customer service, finance, human resources, and information technology.
The latest figures are substantially higher than earlier Census estimates. In November 2023, 3.8% of businesses reported using AI to produce goods or services.
The increase does not represent growth alone. The Census Bureau broadened the questions on Nov. 17, 2025. The former wording asked whether businesses used or expected to use AI “in producing goods or services.” The revised questions ask about AI use “in any of its business functions.”
Census made the change after research indicated that some businesses did not count AI used for administrative or support work under the former wording.
Because of the change, the earlier and current percentages are not directly comparable. The latest survey periods, however, show reported AI use holding near 20%, while businesses’ own responses suggest the rate could rise into the 20% to 23% range during the next six months.
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