AI adoption by firm size
This chart compares recent reported AI use across seven employer-size groups in the Census Business Trends and Outlook Survey. It uses only the current question about AI in any business function and does not join the results to the earlier, narrower production-focused wording.
Current ‘any business function’ wording only; the earlier production-focused question is excluded.
What does it show?
Reported AI use increases steadily with employer size, from roughly one-fifth of the smallest firms to more than one-third of the largest.
Methodology
Survey-weighted Census Business Trends and Outlook Survey shares of U.S. nonfarm employer businesses answering Yes to using artificial intelligence in any business function during the prior two weeks, by employment size. This snapshot uses only the current wording introduced in November 2025 and does not splice it to the earlier question about producing goods or services.