AI use by U.S. businesses small but growing rapidly, led by IT sector and firms in Colorado and DC

The rate of businesses in the U.S. using AI is still relatively small but growing rapidly, with firms in information technology, and in locations like Colorado and the District of Columbia, leading the way, according to a new paper from U.S. Census Bureau researchers

Overall use of AI tools by firms in the production of goods and services rose from 3.7 per cent last fall to 5.4 per cent in February, and it is expected to rise in the U.S. to 6.6 per cent by early fall, according to the bureau's Business Trends and Outlook Survey released this spring.

The use of AI by firms is still rather small because many businesses haven't yet seen a need for it, Census Bureau researchers said in an accompanying paper.

“Many small businesses, such as barber shops, nail salons or dry cleaners, may not yet see a use for AI, but this can change with growing business applications of AI,” they said. “One potential explanation is the current lack of AI applications to a wide variety of business problems.”