Business AI Adoption Rate
Also tracked as The Adoption Curve
Share of U.S. employer businesses using AI in production
What was the last verified Business AI Adoption Rate reading?
In the Census Bureau's Business Trends and Outlook Survey, 10% of U.S. employer businesses reported using AI in producing goods or services in a two-week period in September 2025, the last reading before Census changed its question. The figure is a share of firms, not workers, and the survey does not establish that adoption caused any particular workforce outcome.
In September 2025, 10% of U.S. employer businesses said they used AI to produce goods or services, up from 6.6% a year earlier.
Every two weeks the Census Bureau's Business Trends and Outlook Survey asks a panel of U.S. employer businesses whether they used artificial intelligence in the past two weeks. From September 2023 to September 2025 the question asked about AI use in producing goods or services. In the September 2025 survey period, 10% said yes. In the first period, in September 2023, the share was 3.7%.
This is a share of businesses, not of workers. Each firm counts by its survey weight, whatever its size. Weighted by employment, the share is much higher: on the newer question, for November 2025 to January 2026, Census researchers put it at 18% of firms but 32% of employment. Businesses that answered "do not know" stay in the count, so the share that said no is smaller than 100% minus the yes share.
In November 2025 Census changed the question to ask about AI use in any business function and started a new series. Readings on the new question are much higher, but Census researchers say the jump mixes three things: the new wording, adoption that went on during the fall 2025 federal shutdown when no data were collected, and a new AI supplement. The new readings are not on this chart, and this page makes no comparison across the change.
The survey asks only whether a business used AI. It does not ask whether AI replaced work people used to do. On this site, adoption sits beside capability, hiring and layoff measures such as AI-attributed layoffs and AI task-length tests. The data do not show that one caused another.
Is this happening to you?
Is your employer rolling out AI tools that change how you do your job?
Business AI Adoption Rate over time: what has changed?
Counties with the highest labor scores
These are labor scores from our County Distress Index, not county readings of Business AI Adoption Rate.
Explore all 3,144 counties →| Period | Value | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | 10% | — |
| Aug 2025 | 9.1% | — |
| Jul 2025 | 8.8% | — |
| Jun 2025 | 9.3% | — |
| May 2025 | 9.2% | — |
| Apr 2025 | 8.7% | — |
| Mar 2025 | 8% | — |
| Feb 2025 | 7.4% | — |
| Jan 2025 | 6.8% | — |
| Dec 2024 | 6% | — |
| Nov 2024 | 6.1% | — |
| Oct 2024 | 6% | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of U.S. businesses use AI?
On the Census question used from September 2023 to September 2025, 10% of employer businesses said they used AI in producing goods or services in a two-week period in September 2025. Census asks a broader question now, about AI in any business function, and those readings are higher. The two are separate series and should not be compared.
Is this the share of workers who use AI?
No. It is a share of businesses, with each firm counted by its survey weight regardless of size. Surveys of workers, employment-weighted counts and private payment data measure different things and report different numbers.
Does AI adoption mean AI replaced jobs?
The survey does not say. It asks only whether a business used AI. American Default Research tracks adoption beside hiring and layoff measures, but the adoption survey alone does not show that AI caused layoffs, longer job searches or wage changes.
Where does AI adoption data come from?
The Census Bureau's Business Trends and Outlook Survey, a voluntary survey of U.S. employer businesses that Census labels experimental. It publishes every two weeks. Census samples about 1.2 million businesses a year in six panels, and each estimate comes from one panel.
Quick poll
Is this affecting you or your household?
Discussion
Get the numbers when they move.
New data drops, indicator updates, and American Distress Index changes — delivered when it matters. No spam.
or Create an Account for full access
Loading comments…