86% of U.S. small businesses already use artificial intelligence, but few have fully integrated it, Goldman Sachs says

New York — Adoption of artificial intelligence among U.S. small businesses surveyed by Goldman Sachs rose to 86% in 2026, up from 56% in 2024 and 77% in 2025, according to the bank's October report, titled "The AI Economy Is a Small Business Economy."

The study is based on a survey of 2,473 graduates of Goldman Sachs' 10,000 Small Businesses program. "The gap between adoption and integration is now the defining frontier for small businesses," the report states: only a minority of AI users has fully integrated it into core operations, while most use it for specific activities or on an experimental basis.

Use is also shifting focus: beyond marketing and content creation, businesses are increasingly applying AI to financial analysis, business planning and operational decisions. Some 93% of businesses using AI report a positive impact, and 74% cite efficiency gains and time savings.

The report warns of a governance gap, however: 74% of AI users have no formal policy governing how employees use the technology, a risk as these tools reach into financial and operational decisions.

For small businesses in the Dominican and Latino community in New York and New Jersey, the report's message is practical: AI is no longer an experimental tool but an everyday competitive advantage, as long as it is used with clear rules about what data is shared and who decides based on its results.

Photo: Archivo A Lo Claro

Source: New Kerala / Goldman Sachs