Goldman Sachs report shows rising AI adoption among US small businesses

Goldman Sachs AI adoption small businesses generative AI digital transformation

A report by Goldman Sachs reveals that AI adoption among US small businesses has increased significantly, reaching 86 percent in 2026, up from 56 percent in 2024. Despite this surge, a gap remains between adoption and deep integration; only 15 to 18 percent of businesses have fully integrated AI into their core operations.

Usage patterns are shifting from marketing and content creation toward more complex business functions. The share of businesses using AI for financial analysis and business planning rose from 18 percent in 2024 to 42 percent in 2026, while data analysis use also increased to 42 percent. Conversely, use for written marketing content declined from 74 percent to 65 percent.

Among rural small business owners, adoption rose from 47 percent in 2024 to 80 percent in 2026. While 86 percent of users rely on standalone generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, deeper technological integration remains low, with only 18 percent using agentic AI and 12 percent adopting custom-built solutions. Most users utilize AI at low costs, with 73 percent using free tools or spending less than $100 per month.

Entities

ChatGPT · Claude · Gemini · Goldman Sachs · United States

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] AI use for financial analysis and business planning increased from 18 percent in 2024 to 42 percent in 2026. desitalkchicago.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] 73 percent of small business AI users are using free tools or spending less than $100 per month. newsable.asianetnews.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] AI use for data analysis increased from 26 percent to 42 percent between 2024 and 2026. desitalkchicago.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Only 15 to 18 percent of surveyed small businesses have fully integrated AI into core operations. desitalkchicago.com · newsable.asianetnews.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Only 18 percent of small business owners use agentic AI. newsable.asianetnews.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] AI adoption among rural small business owners rose to 80 percent in 2026 from 47 percent in 2024. newsable.asianetnews.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] 86 percent of AI-using small business owners rely on standalone generative AI chatbots. newsable.asianetnews.com
[● 2 SOURCES] AI adoption among US small businesses reached 86 percent in 2026. desitalkchicago.com · newsable.asianetnews.com

Sources

AI adoption among US small businesses reaches 86 pc, but full integration remains low: Goldman Sachs [desitalkchicago.com]

6 days ago

AI Adoption Among Rural Small Business Owners Surges to 80 Percent [newsable.asianetnews.com]

4 days ago

India's Daily Multimodal AI Use To Nearly Double To 43% By 2030: Ericsson Report [www.deccanchronicle.com]

4 days ago