AI adoption in U.S. IT firms shows steady increase
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — Researchers from the U.S. Census Bureau revealed that firms in the information technology sector, particularly in Colorado and the District of Columbia, are at the forefront of adopting artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
This trend is part of a broader increase in AI utilization across various business sectors in the U.S.
Rapid growth in AI usage
The recent Business Trends and Outlook Survey conducted by the Census Bureau indicates a significant rise in AI tool adoption among U.S. firms. From a modest 3.7% last fall, the usage has climbed to 5.4% by February, with projections suggesting an increase to 6.6% by the upcoming fall.
Despite these gains, the overall penetration of AI within businesses remains relatively low, with many companies yet to identify a need for such technology.
Varied applications and minimal job impact
AI’s primary applications within these firms include enhancing marketing strategies, powering customer service chatbots, and improving language and voice recognition capabilities.
Notably, the deployment of AI tools has not led to significant workforce reductions. Instead, firms using AI are generally expanding, innovating their workflows, and investing in staff training and related services.
Regional differences in AI adoption
The adoption rates of AI vary significantly across different states, with Colorado and the District of Columbia leading at 7.4% and 7.2%, respectively. These figures contrast sharply with states like Mississippi, where only 1.7% of firms utilize AI.
The survey also reveals a disparity in AI usage among firms of different sizes, with larger companies more likely to employ AI technologies than their smaller counterparts.
Skepticism and future prospects
Despite the optimistic growth figures, firms remain skeptical about the future adoption of AI.
Approximately two-thirds of businesses not currently using AI anticipate continuing without it. Moreover, about 14% of current AI users do not expect to maintain their usage, suggesting ongoing experimentation and possible discontinuation.
Ron Jarmin, Deputy Director of the Census Bureau, emphasized the importance of monitoring AI’s integration into the economy.
“For the first time that I know of, we are in a place to measure the diffusion of a general-purpose technology through the economy to learn what impact it has,” he stated, underscoring the agency’s commitment to tracking this transformative technology.
