New Delhi, India, October 24 (ANI) — Artificial intelligence (AI) adoption among small businesses surveyed through Goldman Sachs’ U.S. entrepreneurship program has risen sharply to 86% in 2026, up from 56% in 2024. However, only 15% have fully integrated the technology into their core operations, according to a new Goldman Sachs report.
The October 2026 report, titled “The AI Economy Is a Small Business Economy,” highlights a widening gap between businesses adopting AI tools and those using the technology as an integral part of their operations.
“The gap between adoption and integration is now the defining frontier for small businesses,” the report stated.
Based on a survey of 2,473 alumni of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program in the United States, the research found that AI adoption had increased by 30 percentage points over the past two years, rising from 56% in 2024 and 77% in 2025 to 86% in 2026.
However, among businesses already using AI, only 18% reported fully integrating it into their core operations, while many continued to use the technology for selected activities or experimentation.
“High adoption does not mean deep integration,” the report noted.
The findings also indicate a shift in how small businesses use AI, with applications increasingly moving beyond marketing and content creation toward financial analysis, business planning and operational decision-making.
The share of AI-using businesses employing the technology for financial analysis and business planning more than doubled, from 18% in 2024 to 42% in 2026.
Similarly, AI use for data analysis increased from 26% to 42% during the same period.
In comparison, the share of businesses using AI to create written marketing content declined from 74% to 65%, suggesting a gradual shift toward more business-focused applications.
Despite growing adoption, AI has not led to widespread workforce reductions among the businesses surveyed.
According to the report, 84% of business owners using AI reported no change in their workforce as a result of the technology, while 6% reported reducing staff and 5% said they had added positions.
The study also found that 93% of AI users reported a positive impact on their businesses, while 74% identified greater efficiency and time savings as major benefits.
However, significant gaps remain in employee training and governance.
Approximately 74% of business owners using AI reported having no formal policy governing employees’ use of the technology, while 77% of all respondents said additional training and resources would be beneficial.
The findings suggest that although AI is becoming a common business tool, converting adoption into measurable gains will increasingly depend on employee skills, structured implementation and deeper integration into daily operations.
The report is based on a survey conducted between August 10 and August 24, 2026, among alumni of Goldman Sachs’ U.S. small business program. Its findings reflect the businesses surveyed rather than all small businesses in the United States. (ANI)
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