The biggest numbers across AI, search, advertising, e-commerce, cyber security and development: every one checked at its original source and split by company size where the source allows.
of US employer businesses used AI in a business function in the two weeks before the survey (5-18 Oct 2026)
| Group | Firms using AI |
|---|---|
| 1 to 4 staff | 24.3% |
| 5 to 9 | 22.6% |
| 10 to 19 | 24.6% |
| 20 to 49 | 26% |
| 50 to 99 | 29% |
| 100 to 249 | 35.3% |
| 250 or more | 43.6% |
| All US firms | 24.6% |
Source: US Census Bureau, Business Trends and Outlook Survey, Oct 2026
Questions answered
78 questions across 15 topics, each answered from its original sources.
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Company size lens
The same question gets very different answers by company size. Here are the splits the sources publish.
Under 50 staff. Most businesses in the US and the EU.
50 to 249 staff (EU), 100 to 249 (US).
250 or more staff.
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of US firms with 1 to 4 employees used AI in a business function in the last two weeks, close to the 24.6% national rate (small firms, USA). All firms: 24.6%.
Most firms your size have not started either, so an early start is still an edge.
US Census Bureau, Business Trends and Outlook Survey, Oct 2026
Pick a topic: the filters, the cards and the inspector below follow it.
of US employer businesses used AI in a business function in the two weeks before the survey (5-18 Oct 2026)
of US adults use AI chatbots to search for information, the most common use Pew measured (Feb 2026)
in US internet advertising revenue in 2025, up 13.9% from 2024 and the highest in the report's 30 years
of developers use AI coding assistants or coding agents at work (Stack Overflow 2026 survey)
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| Group | Firms using AI |
|---|---|
| 1 to 4 staff | 24.3% |
| 5 to 9 | 22.6% |
| 10 to 19 | 24.6% |
| 20 to 49 | 26% |
| 50 to 99 | 29% |
| 100 to 249 | 35.3% |
| 250 or more | 43.6% |
| All US firms | 24.6% |
Same data, any style
| Group | Used AI in last two weeks | Expect to use AI in next six months |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Nov 2025 | 17.3% | 21.1% |
| 14 Dec 2025 | 17.2% | 20.9% |
| 28 Dec 2025 | 17.8% | 21.3% |
| 11 Jan 2026 | 17.7% | 22.4% |
| 25 Jan 2026 | 18.2% | 22.1% |
| 8 Feb 2026 | 18.9% | 22.1% |
| 22 Feb 2026 | 17.5% | 21% |
| 8 Mar 2026 | 18.2% | 21.8% |
| 22 Mar 2026 | 18.9% | 22.3% |
| 5 Apr 2026 | 19.1% | 22.5% |
| 19 Apr 2026 | 19.8% | 23% |
| 3 May 2026 | 19.8% | 22.8% |
| 17 May 2026 | 19.5% | 22.7% |
| 31 May 2026 | 20.6% | 23.7% |
| 14 Jun 2026 | 20.6% | 23.9% |
| 28 Jun 2026 | 20.6% | 23.7% |
| 12 Jul 2026 | 21.7% | 24.5% |
| 26 Jul 2026 | 21.5% | 24.3% |
| 9 Aug 2026 | 21.8% | 25.9% |
| 23 Aug 2026 | 22.4% | 25.9% |
| 6 Sep 2026 | 23.2% | 27.3% |
| 20 Sep 2026 | 23.8% | 27.6% |
| 4 Oct 2026 | 23.8% | 27.7% |
| 18 Oct 2026 | 24.6% | 28.6% |
| Group | Firms using AI |
|---|---|
| Information | 46.4% |
| Professional services | 43.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 40.5% |
| Educational services | 33.4% |
| All US firms | 24.6% |
| Manufacturing | 22.9% |
| Retail trade | 18.5% |
| Accommodation and food | 10.7% |
| Group | Firms using AI |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 34.1% |
| Utah | 32.1% |
| Colorado | 31.9% |
| Arizona | 31.5% |
| All US firms | 24.6% |
| New Mexico | 14.7% |
| Wyoming | 14.4% |
| Idaho | 13.5% |
| West Virginia | 9.8% |
Every stat
Each card links to its own page with the source, a ready citation and the data. We show the first 24; search, filter or open a topic for the rest.
of US employer businesses used AI in a business function in the two weeks before the survey (5-18 Oct 2026)
Sample: About 1.2 million US employer businesses in six panels of about 200,000; each panel reports every 12 weeks. About 24,000 responses in the 5-18 Oct 2026 wave (Census response file URR.xlsx, 12% response rate).
of US employer businesses expect to use AI in a business function in the next six months (survey of 5-18 Oct 2026)
Sample: About 1.2 million US employer businesses in six panels of about 200,000; each panel reports every 12 weeks. About 24,000 responses in the 5-18 Oct 2026 wave (Census response file URR.xlsx, 12% response rate).
of US firms with 250 or more employees used AI in a business function in the last two weeks, almost twice the national rate
Sample: About 1.2 million US employer businesses in six panels of about 200,000; each panel reports every 12 weeks. About 24,000 responses in the 5-18 Oct 2026 wave (Census response file URR.xlsx, 12% response rate).
of US firms with 100 to 249 employees used AI in a business function in the last two weeks
Sample: About 1.2 million US employer businesses in six panels of about 200,000; each panel reports every 12 weeks. About 24,000 responses in the 5-18 Oct 2026 wave (Census response file URR.xlsx, 12% response rate).
of US firms with 1 to 4 employees used AI in a business function in the last two weeks, close to the 24.6% national rate
Sample: About 1.2 million US employer businesses in six panels of about 200,000; each panel reports every 12 weeks. About 24,000 responses in the 5-18 Oct 2026 wave (Census response file URR.xlsx, 12% response rate).
of US firms in the information sector used AI in the last two weeks, the highest of any sector
Sample: About 1.2 million US employer businesses in six panels of about 200,000; each panel reports every 12 weeks. About 24,000 responses in the 5-18 Oct 2026 wave (Census response file URR.xlsx, 12% response rate).
of US professional, scientific and technical services firms (lawyers, accountants, agencies, engineers) used AI in the last two weeks
Sample: About 1.2 million US employer businesses in six panels of about 200,000; each panel reports every 12 weeks. About 24,000 responses in the 5-18 Oct 2026 wave (Census response file URR.xlsx, 12% response rate).
of US finance and insurance firms used AI in the last two weeks
Sample: About 1.2 million US employer businesses in six panels of about 200,000; each panel reports every 12 weeks. About 24,000 responses in the 5-18 Oct 2026 wave (Census response file URR.xlsx, 12% response rate).
of US retail firms used AI in the last two weeks, below the 24.6% national rate
Sample: About 1.2 million US employer businesses in six panels of about 200,000; each panel reports every 12 weeks. About 24,000 responses in the 5-18 Oct 2026 wave (Census response file URR.xlsx, 12% response rate).
of US accommodation and food services firms (hotels, restaurants) used AI in the last two weeks
Sample: About 1.2 million US employer businesses in six panels of about 200,000; each panel reports every 12 weeks. About 24,000 responses in the 5-18 Oct 2026 wave (Census response file URR.xlsx, 12% response rate).
of Utah employer businesses used AI in the last two weeks, the highest of the 50 states in this wave (DC: 34.1%)
Sample: About 1.2 million US employer businesses in six panels of about 200,000; each panel reports every 12 weeks. About 24,000 responses in the 5-18 Oct 2026 wave (Census response file URR.xlsx, 12% response rate).
of West Virginia employer businesses used AI in the last two weeks, the lowest of any state in this wave
Sample: About 1.2 million US employer businesses in six panels of about 200,000; each panel reports every 12 weeks. About 24,000 responses in the 5-18 Oct 2026 wave (Census response file URR.xlsx, 12% response rate).
of EU enterprises with 10 or more employees used at least one AI technology in 2025, up 6.47 points on 2024
Sample: 157,000 of 1.53 million EU enterprises with 10 or more employees surveyed in the first months of 2025.
of small EU enterprises (10 to 49 employees) used AI in 2025
Sample: 157,000 of 1.53 million EU enterprises with 10 or more employees surveyed in the first months of 2025.
of medium-sized EU enterprises (50 to 249 employees) used AI in 2025
Sample: 157,000 of 1.53 million EU enterprises with 10 or more employees surveyed in the first months of 2025.
of large EU enterprises (250 or more employees) used AI in 2025, about three times the small-firm rate
Sample: 157,000 of 1.53 million EU enterprises with 10 or more employees surveyed in the first months of 2025.
of EU firms that considered AI but did not use it named lack of relevant expertise as a reason (2025)
Sample: 157,000 of 1.53 million EU enterprises with 10 or more employees surveyed in the first months of 2025.
of large EU enterprises using AI used it for ICT security in 2025, against 14.51% of small ones
Sample: 157,000 of 1.53 million EU enterprises with 10 or more employees surveyed in the first months of 2025.
of McKinsey survey respondents worldwide said their organization regularly uses AI in at least one business function (2025), up from 78% a year before
Sample: 1,993 online respondents in 105 nations, 25 Jun to 29 Jul 2025; 38% work at organizations with more than $1 billion revenue.
of McKinsey survey respondents expect AI to decrease their organization's headcount over the next year; 43% expect little or no change
Sample: 1,719 online respondents in 97 nations, 4 May to 8 Jun 2026; 36% at organizations with more than $1 billion revenue.
US workers used generative AI at work in the prior month (Fed survey, Oct 2025)
Sample: Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED), US adults, fielded October 2025.
of US workers who used generative AI at work in the prior month agreed that it saves them time
Sample: SHED, US adults, fielded October 2025.
of the US workforce used generative AI for work as of November 2025 (Real-Time Population Survey, reported by the Federal Reserve)
Sample: Real-Time Population Survey of US adults, November 2025.
of US adults say they ever use AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot (Feb 2026)
Sample: 5,119 US adults, American Trends Panel, 17-23 Feb 2026.
How much each number moved between two editions of the same source
| Group | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| US employer businesses expect to use AI | 22.8% | 28.6% |
| US businesses with 5 to 9 employees used AI | 15.5% | 22.6% |
| US home buyers were first-time buyers | 24% | 21% |
| Law firms answered a secret-shopper phone call | 56% | 40% |
We update each page when the source publishes new data.
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What US advertisers spend online, by format, and how many US adults use each platform.
| Group | Revenue 2025 |
|---|---|
| Social media | $117.7B |
| Search | $114.2B |
| Display | $81.6B |
| Digital video | $78B |
| Commerce media | $63.4B |
| Podcast | $2.9B |
| Group | US adults, 2026 |
|---|---|
| YouTube | 84% |
| 70% | |
| 51% | |
| TikTok | 37% |
| 33% | |
| 31% | |
| Snapchat | 26% |
| 25% | |
| X | 18% |
| Nextdoor | 18% |
Chart gallery
Open a topic for all of its charts and stats.
| Group | US adults |
|---|---|
| Search for information | 42% |
| Tasks at work (employed) | 38% |
| Fun or entertainment | 25% |
| Create or edit images or videos | 24% |
| Medical advice | 20% |
| Diet and fitness information | 20% |
| Get news | 13% |
| Emotional support or advice | 10% |
| Companionship | 4% |
| Group | Revenue |
|---|---|
| 2016 | $72.6B |
| 2017 | $88.3B |
| 2018 | $107.5B |
| 2019 | $124.6B |
| 2020 | $139.8B |
| 2021 | $189.3B |
| 2022 | $209.7B |
| 2023 | $225B |
| 2024 | $258.6B |
| 2025 | $294.6B |
| Group | Use AI coding assistants or agents |
|---|---|
| 1 to 5 years | 57.8% |
| 6 to 15 years | 72.7% |
| 16+ years | 69.6% |
| All respondents | 65.9% |
| Group | Revenue, seasonally adjusted |
|---|---|
| 1Q 2025 | $149.6B |
| 2Q 2025 | $154.2B |
| 3Q 2025 | $160B |
| 4Q 2025 | $164.9B |
| 1Q 2026 | $170.5B |
| 2Q 2026 | $177B |
Reconciled
The different numbers you see quoted are often all real: they come from different panels, years and questions. Here they are side by side.
Each number as its source reported it
| Group | As reported |
|---|---|
| 2019, SparkToro / Jumpshot panel | 49% |
| 2020, SparkToro / Similarweb | 64.82% |
| Sep 2022-May 2024, SparkToro / Datos panel | 58.5% |
| 2024 (restated), SparkToro, 2026 post | 60.45% |
| Jan-Apr 2026, SparkToro / Similarweb panel | 68.01% |
| Number | When | Who measured | Why it differs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49% | 2019 | SparkToro / Jumpshot panel | First SparkToro study; a now-defunct panel, US. Not comparable with later panels. |
| 64.82% | 2020 | SparkToro / Similarweb | Worldwide, not US, desktop and mobile; often misquoted as US. Same post gives US Q4 2020 as 68.3%. |
| 58.5% | Sep 2022-May 2024 | SparkToro / Datos panel | US; few iPhones in the panel; weighted 63% mobile. |
| 60.45% | 2024 (restated) | SparkToro, 2026 post | The 2026 post restates the 2024 US figure as 60.45%; it does not explain the change from 58.5%. |
| 68.01% | Jan-Apr 2026 | SparkToro / Similarweb panel | US, browser searches on desktop and mobile; Google app excluded; SparkToro calls the comparison with earlier years 'a bit of apples and oranges'. |
| 62.1% to 69.5% | Jan-Apr 2026 | SparkToro / Similarweb, six countries | Germany lowest, UK highest; same panel and period, so these can be compared with each other. |
| Number | When | Who measured | Why it differs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24.6% | 5-18 Oct 2026 | US Census Bureau, BTOS | Every US employer firm counts once, and most are small. Asks about AI in a business function in the last two weeks. |
| 32% of jobs | Nov 2025 - Jan 2026 | Census working paper CES-WP-26-25 | Same Census survey weighted by employment: 18% of firms, but they hold 32% of jobs. |
| 46% | Sep - Nov 2025 | Federal Reserve Banks, Small Business Credit Survey | Small employer firms (1-499 staff), convenience sample; counts use by the business or any employee. |
| 78% | Summer 2026 | NBER w34836 | Nearly 9,000 senior executives in seven countries; bigger firms weigh more. |
| 78% of workers | Nov 2025 | Atlanta Fed Survey of Business Uncertainty (via Fed note) | Share of the labor force at AI-adopting firms, not a share of firms. |
| 88% | Jun - Jul 2025 | McKinsey global survey | Share of 1,993 respondents worldwide; 38% work at $1B+ firms. |
| 20.2% | 2025 | OECD | Firms in OECD countries with data, mostly 10+ staff; not US only. |
| 19.95% | 2025 | Eurostat | EU enterprises with 10+ staff; not US. |
Stat check
Famous stats with no real source, or quoted wrong, and where they came from.
Stanford's AI Index found that 88% of organizations use AI
The 88% is from McKinsey's global survey (Nov 2025, 1,993 respondents, many at large firms). The AI Index repeats it. It is a share of survey respondents, not of all businesses; Census puts US employer firms at 24.6%. Where it came from
Quote this instead: 24.6%78% of US businesses now use AI
78% comes from an NBER survey of executives in seven countries, and separately from the Atlanta Fed estimate that 78% of the labor force works at AI-adopting firms (a share of workers). The Census share of US firms is 24.6%. Where it came from
Quote this instead: 24.6%Companies that adopt AI are cutting jobs
Common in headlines about single companies. In the Census AI supplement, 95.7% of AI-using firms said AI did not change total employment; 2.0% said it decreased. Where it came from
Quote this instead: 95.7%Only about 5% of US businesses use AI
Census numbers from 2023-2024 (3.7% to 6%) used the old question about AI "in producing goods or services". Census widened the question in November 2025. Where it came from
Quote this instead: 24.6%AI skills earn a 56% wage premium
From PwC's 2025 AI Jobs Barometer. The 2026 edition gives 62% and restates last year as 57%. Where it came from
Quote this instead: 62%AI made more images in a year than photography made in 149 years
Spread by news sites from Everypixel's 2023 estimate. Everypixel corrected the comparison; its page now says photographers took "a few dozen years" to reach 15 billion. The 15 billion figure itself is an extrapolated 2023 estimate. Where it came from
79% of companies have adopted AI agents
PwC asked 300 US senior executives in May 2025 whether AI agents are "being adopted" in their companies, which counts agent features in everyday apps. Gartner's 2026 CIO survey puts deployed agents at 17%. Where it came from
Quote this instead: 62%40% of enterprise apps already have AI agents
A Gartner prediction (Aug 2025) that 40% of enterprise apps will include task-specific agents by the end of 2026, up from less than 5% in 2025. It is a forecast, not a measurement. Where it came from
Over 40% of AI agent projects have failed
Gartner predicted (Jun 2025) that over 40% of agentic AI projects will be canceled by the end of 2027. It is a prediction, not a count of failures. Where it came from
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