By Aijaz Alam
Which US states have the most businesses using AI?
Utah had the highest share of employer businesses using AI of the 50 states, 32.1%, in the Census Business Trends and Outlook Survey collected 5 to 18 October 2026; only the District of Columbia was higher, at 34.1%. West Virginia was lowest at 9.8%, against 24.6% nationally. State figures move a lot from one wave to the next.
- 32.1%Utah employer businesses using AI, the highest of the 50 statesCensus BTOS, collected 5-18 Oct 2026; standard error 3.54 points
- 34.1%District of Columbia, above every stateCensus BTOS, collected 5-18 Oct 2026; standard error 6.66 points
- 9.8%West Virginia, the lowest stateCensus BTOS, collected 5-18 Oct 2026; standard error 3.19 points
- 24.6%All US employer businessesCensus BTOS, collected 5-18 Oct 2026
- 41.7%Companies that operate in several states or sectors (not given a state)Census BTOS, collected 5-18 Oct 2026; standard error 2.38 points
The numbers
The full breakdown
Share of employer businesses using AI, by state (5-18 Oct 2026)
| State | Using AI, 5-18 Oct 2026 | Standard error (points) | Using AI, 17-30 Nov 2025 | Average of the last six waves, 27 Jul to 18 Oct 2026 (our calculation) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 34.1% | 6.66 | 23.2% | 34.4% |
| Utah | 32.1% | 3.54 | 15.3% | 31.3% |
| Colorado | 31.9% | 1.57 | 25.2% | 28.8% |
| Arizona | 31.5% | 2.47 | 24.5% | 27.3% |
| North Carolina | 29.6% | 1.86 | 20.6% | 24.8% |
| Minnesota | 29.5% | 1.69 | 19.1% | 25.9% |
| Maryland | 29.4% | 1.35 | 21.2% | 23.6% |
| Virginia | 28.9% | 0.99 | 19.8% | 25.2% |
| Hawaii | 28.6% | 3.25 | 15.4% | 22.5% |
| Texas | 28.0% | 1.16 | 19.6% | 25.5% |
| South Carolina | 27.7% | 1.71 | 16.2% | 23.5% |
| Washington | 27.1% | 2.07 | 17.8% | 26.4% |
| Florida | 26.8% | 1.05 | 16.5% | 26.7% |
| Nevada | 26.0% | 3.96 | 21.3% | 26.9% |
| Nebraska | 25.9% | 3.32 | 20.2% | 22.3% |
| Massachusetts | 25.7% | 2.97 | 17.7% | 23.6% |
| Georgia | 25.4% | 1.71 | 16.6% | 26.1% |
| Delaware | 25.0% | 8.40 | S | 27.6% |
| Kansas | 24.9% | 2.22 | 19.1% | 21.4% |
| Tennessee | 24.9% | 3.09 | 20.4% | 22.5% |
| California | 24.6% | 0.70 | 19.4% | 24.6% |
| Illinois | 24.5% | 1.39 | 14.4% | 21.9% |
| Oregon | 24.4% | 1.69 | 21.1% | 23.1% |
| Connecticut | 23.0% | 2.66 | 15.7% | 19.4% |
| Kentucky | 22.8% | 2.63 | 13.5% | 22.8% |
| Michigan | 22.8% | 1.43 | 16.4% | 21.7% |
| Ohio | 22.8% | 1.05 | 15.9% | 20.8% |
| Montana | 22.7% | 2.91 | 14.6% | 21.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 22.4% | 1.58 | 15.5% | 20.7% |
| Alabama | 22.1% | 3.31 | 14.5% | 19.5% |
| Rhode Island | 21.7% | 6.27 | S | 20.1% (4 waves) |
| Iowa | 21.5% | 3.77 | 14.2% | 19.4% |
| New Hampshire | 21.5% | 4.89 | 11.8% | 20.1% |
| Missouri | 21.1% | 1.71 | 18.6% | 21.0% |
| Indiana | 20.5% | 2.36 | 18.9% | 19.9% |
| Oklahoma | 20.4% | 1.87 | 15.8% | 19.7% |
| North Dakota | 20.0% | 3.44 | S | 17.8% (5 waves) |
| Vermont | 20.0% | 4.33 | S | 20.3% |
| Wisconsin | 19.8% | 1.48 | 14.2% | 19.4% |
| New York | 19.4% | 0.65 | 13.9% | 17.6% |
| New Jersey | 18.6% | 2.11 | 12.7% | 18.9% |
| Mississippi | 18.0% | 6.12 | 11.6% | 16.0% |
| Arkansas | 17.7% | 3.35 | 14.4% | 20.4% |
| Louisiana | 17.3% | 2.35 | 13.3% | 18.6% |
| South Dakota | 17.0% | 5.81 | 11.5% | 21.0% |
| Maine | 16.5% | 3.75 | 11.4% | 20.0% |
| Puerto Rico | 15.7% | 2.61 | 10.1% | 13.4% |
| New Mexico | 14.7% | 3.78 | 9.0% | 19.6% |
| Wyoming | 14.4% | 4.18 | 19.0% | 23.3% (5 waves) |
| Idaho | 13.5% | 2.16 | 12.8% | 21.4% |
| West Virginia | 9.8% | 3.19 | S | 13.3% (5 waves) |
| Alaska | S | S | S | 17.1% (5 waves) |
Census State file, question: did this business use AI in any of its business functions in the last two weeks (asked this way from the 17 Nov 2025 collection). S = suppressed by Census. Sorted by the latest wave. Each state's sample is one panel of firms per wave, so standard errors run from 0.65 points (New York) to 8.40 (Delaware); ranks that differ by less than about two standard errors are not firm. The last column is the plain average of the published estimates for the six waves collected 27 Jul to 18 Oct 2026 (one full rotation of the six panels); where a wave was suppressed the average uses the waves shown; averages are rounded half up to one decimal. National rate 24.6%. Companies that operate in several states or sectors are reported separately (41.7%) and are not in any state row.
Over time
Share of employer businesses using AI in Utah, West Virginia and four large states, every wave since the new question
| Collection ending | Utah | West Virginia | California | Texas | Florida | New York |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Nov 2025 | 15.3% | S | 19.4% | 19.6% | 16.5% | 13.9% |
| 14 Dec 2025 | 17.3% | S | 18.4% | 19.6% | 17.7% | 12.6% |
| 28 Dec 2025 | 23.5% | S | 18.4% | 20.9% | 21.1% | 14.9% |
| 11 Jan 2026 | 15.2% | 14.2% | 19.1% | 19.0% | 20.0% | 14.3% |
| 25 Jan 2026 | 17.6% | 9.8% | 19.4% | 19.5% | 20.5% | 14.7% |
| 8 Feb 2026 | 22.8% | S | 19.8% | 19.9% | 23.9% | 15.5% |
| 22 Feb 2026 | 18.9% | S | 20.2% | 20.6% | 18.4% | 14.6% |
| 8 Mar 2026 | 26.8% | S | 19.2% | 17.9% | 20.6% | 15.9% |
| 22 Mar 2026 | 25.3% | 8.3% | 19.3% | 21.8% | 21.8% | 16.8% |
| 5 Apr 2026 | 19.7% | 13.6% | 20.0% | 20.5% | 20.7% | 15.8% |
| 19 Apr 2026 | 22.6% | 12.6% | 21.4% | 19.1% | 21.9% | 16.8% |
| 3 May 2026 | 21.6% | S | 20.6% | 20.6% | 22.1% | 17.1% |
| 17 May 2026 | 23.1% | 17.6% | 20.6% | 22.2% | 18.8% | 16.2% |
| 31 May 2026 | 24.8% | 14.5% | 21.9% | 20.9% | 22.5% | 16.4% |
| 14 Jun 2026 | 24.5% | 11.3% | 22.2% | 21.3% | 24.8% | 16.7% |
| 28 Jun 2026 | 20.7% | 14.2% | 22.2% | 22.3% | 22.0% | 15.0% |
| 12 Jul 2026 | 24.2% | 16.1% | 22.7% | 22.1% | 25.4% | 16.3% |
| 26 Jul 2026 | 25.1% | 9.2% | 22.4% | 21.9% | 25.4% | 15.7% |
| 9 Aug 2026 | 27.8% | 12.3% | 22.4% | 24.4% | 23.7% | 16.7% |
| 23 Aug 2026 | 30.3% | 21.7% | 23.6% | 25.9% | 25.7% | 16.7% |
| 6 Sep 2026 | 33.7% | 8.7% | 25.1% | 25.2% | 28.2% | 17.0% |
| 20 Sep 2026 | 28.8% | 13.9% | 26.3% | 24.0% | 28.2% | 17.8% |
| 4 Oct 2026 | 34.8% | S | 25.7% | 25.7% | 27.8% | 18.1% |
| 18 Oct 2026 | 32.1% | 9.8% | 24.6% | 28.0% | 26.8% | 19.4% |
Census State file, waves collected 17 Nov 2025 to 18 Oct 2026; S = suppressed. No waves were collected 6 Oct to 16 Nov 2025 (federal funding lapse), and the older question (AI used to produce goods or services) is a different series, so this history starts with the new wording. From the 19 Oct 2026 collection Census asks about "Super Intelligence or SI". California (standard error 0.70 points) and New York (0.65) are the most precise state series; Utah's and West Virginia's standard errors are over 3 points, so single waves jump.
Why sources differ
Same question, different answers
| Number | When | Who measured | Why it differs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32.1% | 5-18 Oct 2026 | Census BTOS, State file, Utah, latest wave | One two-week wave; standard error 3.54 points, so roughly 25% to 39% at 95% confidence. |
| 34.8% | 21 Sep - 4 Oct 2026 | Census BTOS, State file, Utah, previous wave | A different panel of firms answers each wave, so a state's share can move several points in two weeks. |
| 31.3% | 27 Jul - 18 Oct 2026 | Average of six Census waves (our calculation) | Every panel answers once in six waves, so the average smooths the swings; Utah stays second only to DC. |
| 24.6% | 5-18 Oct 2026 | Census BTOS, National file | All US employer firms; standard error 0.27 points. |
| 41.7% | 5-18 Oct 2026 | Census BTOS, State file, multi-unit companies | Companies in several states or sectors are reported apart from the states; their rate is far above any state. |
All of these numbers come from the same Census survey, so the differences are about sample size and timing, not definitions. Each two-week wave asks one of six panels of firms, so small states have far fewer answers than large ones. That is why Utah's standard error is 3.54 points and Delaware's 8.40, against 0.70 for California, and why a state can rise or fall five points between waves without anything changing on the ground.
The six-wave average in the table is our own calculation: it adds every panel once, so it is a steadier guide to the ranking than any single wave. On that measure DC, Utah and Colorado still lead, while Idaho, New Mexico and Wyoming, which sit near the bottom of the latest wave, move up toward the middle. West Virginia and Puerto Rico stay lowest.
The national 24.6% is not an average of the states. Census reports companies that operate in several states or sectors on their own line (41.7%), so every state row covers only firms that sit in one state.
What it means
How to use these numbers
AI use is spreading in every part of the country, but not evenly. Of the 44 states with an estimate in both the first wave asked this way (17-30 Nov 2025) and the latest one, 43 rose; only Wyoming fell. The leaders are a mix of tech-heavy places and fast-growing Mountain West states: DC, Utah, Colorado and Arizona are all above 30% in the latest wave, while West Virginia, Idaho, Wyoming and New Mexico are below 15%.
For a business owner, the state number says less about you than your industry and size do: nationally, information and professional-services firms are above 40% and accommodation and food services firms near 11%. A state with many of those firms will look ahead. Use the state row to see what local customers and competitors are likely doing, and the national sector rows to judge yourself.
For journalists: quote a state with its wave dates and standard error, and prefer an average of several waves (such as our six-wave average) when ranking states. A single wave can reorder states that are within a few points of each other, and Census suppresses some small states (Alaska in the latest wave).
Method and sources
How it was measured
Method
- Publisher
- US Census Bureau, Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS), an experimental data product; State.xlsx download
- Sample
- About 1.2 million US employer businesses in six panels; each panel answers once every 12 weeks, so each state estimate rests on one panel
- Question
- In the last two weeks, did this business use AI in any of its business functions? (this wording from 17 Nov 2025; "Super Intelligence or SI" wording from 19 Oct 2026)
- Margin of error
- State standard errors from 0.65 points (New York) to 8.40 points (Delaware) in the 5-18 Oct 2026 wave; Census suppresses estimates it judges unreliable (S)
- Population
- Firms with at least one paid employee, by state; multi-unit companies that operate in several states or sectors are reported separately
- Checked at source
- 31 Oct 2026: State.xlsx (Response Estimates, Response Standard Errors, Collection and Reference Dates sheets) on census.gov
- Next release
- 5 Nov 2026 (wave collected 19 Oct to 1 Nov 2026), the first asked with the SI wording
- Last changed
- 31 Oct 2026
- Data files
- CSV · JSON (stable links)
Sources
- Business Trends and Outlook Survey, US Census Bureau Official data
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FAQ
More questions people ask
Why is DC higher than every state?
DC's 34.1% rests on few responses: its standard error is 6.66 points, so the true share could be roughly 21% to 47%. Its average over the last six waves (our calculation), 34.4%, is also the highest, so DC probably does lead, but not by a known margin.
Which large states use AI the most?
Of the states with the most precise estimates, Texas is highest at 28.0% (standard error 1.16 points), then Florida 26.8% and California 24.6%, with New York at 19.4% (5-18 Oct 2026).
Where do businesses plan to start using AI?
Asked about the next six months, 37.0% of Colorado firms, 36.4% in Arizona and 35.7% in Utah expected to use AI, against 12.3% in West Virginia (5-18 Oct 2026). Expectations are plans, not forecasts.
Why are some states missing in some waves?
Census suppresses an estimate (shown as S) when too few firms answer or the estimate is not reliable. Alaska is suppressed in the latest wave, and West Virginia in 8 of the 24 waves since November 2025.
Every number on this page was checked at its original source (US Census Bureau). Free to cite with a link to this page.