Three surveys, three answers
The answer depends on who asked and how. Here are three surveys.
| Survey | Result | What it counts |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Census Bureau, May 2026 | 19.8% of firms | Current AI use, all U.S. firms |
| U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2025 | Close to 60% | Small businesses using AI, opt-in trade survey |
| San Francisco Fed, September 2026 | Nearly 40% | Using or planning to use AI, 2024 survey |
The smallest firms use AI less
The Census also found that less than 20% of firms with four or fewer employees reported using AI. For firms with 250 or more employees, the figure was 37%.
Use did not change much among firms with fewer than 20 employees.
Why the numbers differ
They ask different questions. The Fed counts plans as well as use. The Chamber's survey is opt-in, so people who like AI may answer more often. The Census samples businesses across the country.
AI often arrives inside tools you already pay for
Counting adoption misses one thing. In an NFIB survey published June 25, 2025, 44% of small business owners said AI is now included in products they have been using.
So a firm can use AI without ever choosing it. That also means its data may pass through services it did not pick.
Why some owners choose not to use AI
Some owners decide against it. The San Francisco Fed reports reasons such as accuracy, intellectual property rights and the value of human contact.
Those are fair reasons. If you are weighing them, what owners worry about with AI collects the concerns owners raise in their own words.
Questions
What percent of small businesses use AI?
The U.S. Census Bureau found 19.8% of U.S. firms use AI (May 2026). Less than 20% of firms with four or fewer employees reported using it, against 37% of firms with 250 or more.
Why do AI adoption surveys disagree?
They ask different questions. The San Francisco Fed counts plans as well as use, the U.S. Chamber survey is opt-in, and the Census samples businesses across the country.
Is AI already in the software my business uses?
Often. In an NFIB survey published June 25, 2025, 44% of small business owners said AI is now included in products they have been using.
Sources
Each source was read for the book on 2026-09-29. Recheck before you rely on it.
- U.S. Census Bureau, AI Use at U.S. Businesses, May 26, 2026. census.gov
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce, How the New Era of AI Will Impact Consumer-Driven Companies, 2025 survey. uschamber.com
- Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, AI Adoption Among Small Businesses, September 1, 2026. frbsf.org
- NFIB, Small Business and Technology Survey, June 25, 2025. nfib.com
What to do next
MeshVault sets up a server you own, pairs Hermes Desktop to it, and keeps a backup that we have tested. The one-week install is $1,500 as of 2026-09-29. Requote before use.