Goldman Sachs Report Highlights Surge in AI Adoption Among US Small Businesses

Artificial intelligence adoption among US small businesses has experienced a significant upward trajectory, according to a recent report by Goldman Sachs. The data shows that AI adoption among rural small business owners surged to 80 per cent in 2026, marking a substantial increase from 47 per cent in 2024. Despite this rapid uptake, a lack of technical expertise continues to hinder deeper AI integration among rural users.

The report also tracked the progress of graduates from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses programme. Among this group, AI usage increased steadily from 56 per cent in July 2024 to 77 per cent in 2025, and further reached 86 per cent in 2026, demonstrating a growing reliance on AI within daily small business operations.

In terms of tool selection, 86 per cent of AI-using small business owners reported relying on standalone generative AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. Meanwhile, 54 per cent indicated they use AI features integrated directly into existing software, including Microsoft 365 Copilot and QuickBooks AI Agents.

However, the report points out that the adoption of more advanced technologies remains limited. Only 18 per cent of respondents use agentic AI, 19 per cent employ AI coding tools, and 12 per cent have adopted custom-built solutions, reflecting lower levels of complex technological integration. Cost remains low for most users, with 73 per cent either utilizing free tools or spending less than $100 per month, and 63 per cent engaging with AI on a daily basis.

Disparities persist across demographics and business types. Rural small business owners are less likely than their non-rural counterparts to apply AI to customer relationship management, with a split of 16 per cent compared to 28 per cent. Rural owners also show less focus on using AI to target customers or compete with larger enterprises. Furthermore, industry sector plays a role in adoption rates; service-based businesses report higher levels of integration and daily use compared to product-based businesses, which are generally more recent adopters focusing on immediate operational needs.

"The findings from the Goldman Sachs report highlight a clear trend: small businesses are eager to adopt accessible AI tools like generative chatbots to improve operational efficiency at a low cost. However, the limited adoption of advanced solutions such as custom-built models and agentic AI points to a critical skills gap. For entrepreneurs and ecosystem enablers, bridging this gap through targeted technical education will be essential to move businesses beyond basic adoption and into deeper, value-driven integration." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes