AI Adoption Statistics: How Many Businesses Are Using AI?

Census data on AI adoption rates reveal that businesses are still considering how to use the new tech.

By Lyle Daly – Updated Feb 5, 2026 at 12:46 PM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

19.5% of U.S. businesses used AI in 2026, up from nearly zero in 2023.
AI adoption is highest in the information sector at 43%, lowest in food service and transportation.
Large firms use AI twice as much as small businesses, with no major change in headcount.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that 19.5% of U.S. businesses used AI in May 2026. It has been tracking AI adoption statistics since the fall of 2023.

Even if it seems like businesses everywhere are integrating AI technology into their operations, that perception doesn't quite match reality. Explore the latest AI statistics below, including current and projected usage rates nationwide, as well as at the state, city, sector, and business-size levels.

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In the May 2026 Census Bureau survey, 19.5% of businesses reported using AI, and 22.7% expected to use it in the next six months. Here are more details on companies using AI nationwide:

AI adoption is steadily rising. Although the numbers fluctuate between survey periods, usage and projected usage numbers have grown significantly over the last three years.
Use cases are still fairly narrow. The national measure of AI usage includes companies across the entire economy, including sectors with relatively few AI applications, such as construction, mining, transportation, and hospitality. Low usage in those sectors pulls down the overall rate.
Employee AI usage is in line with the overall numbers. The most recent rates were 21% for employees who said they used AI for work tasks and 19.1% for those who reported using generative AI.

It's worth noting that the U.S. Census Bureau adjusted its survey wording in mid-2025, asking businesses whether they used AI in "any business function" rather than "to produce goods and services." The jump in usage and projected usage around that time period is likely due to the change in wording.

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The information technology sector has the highest AI usage, which makes sense considering companies in this sector are most likely to be early adopters of new technology. Here's a breakdown of AI adoption by industry and job type:

White-collar jobs are the most likely to use AI. After information, the sectors with the top AI usage are professional services at 38.8%, finance/insurance at 31.3%, and education at 31.3%.
AI adoption is low for trades and physical labor. The sectors with the lowest AI usage are transportation (7.5%), accommodation and food (8.3%), and construction (9.5%).
Not all sectors are embracing AI. In some sectors, including utilities and construction, AI usage has declined since the start of the year.

The data here supports the narrative that AI is handling more white-collar job duties and hasn't affected the trades much yet.

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There's a sizable gap in the AI adoption rate between large and small businesses, as:

Larger companies are the most likely to use AI. At companies with 250 or more employees, 36.1% used AI. In addition, 43.1% of employees at these companies had used AI in the last six months.
AI adoption rates decline gradually for small- and mid-sized businesses. At companies with 100 to 249 employees, 30.6% reported using AI. That dropped to 25.5% for companies with 50 to 99 employees.
AI hasn't caught on much with the smallest businesses. Fewer than one in five companies with under 50 employees use AI.

On a positive note, 95% to 96% of AI-using businesses reported that AI didn't change their employment numbers.

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Colorado has the highest AI adoption rate at 28.1%, and Arizona is close behind at 28.0%. The bottom states are Maine and Alaska, where AI is used by 13.9% and 14.0% of businesses, respectively.

Virginia, notable for being the state with the most data centers, is above average for AI usage with an adoption rate of 23.1%.

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About the Author

Lyle Daly is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering information technology and cryptocurrency. Lyle has been a contributor at the financial services company since 2018. His work has been featured on USA Today, Yahoo Finance, MSN, Fox Business, and Nasdaq. Before joining The Motley Fool, he wrote for financial brands including Intuit.

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@LyleDaly

Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Oracle. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

AI Adoption Statistics: How Many Businesses Are Using AI?

Census data on AI adoption rates reveal that businesses are still considering how to use the new tech.

Key Points

About the Author

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