What the report found
- Use is mainstream. 66 percent of small businesses report using AI, up 8 points from 2025.
- Users report more growth. Businesses using AI were at least 7 points more likely to report growth in sales, profit and workforce than businesses that did not use it.
- Training is the focus. 95 percent of small businesses using AI say they are working to upskill employees, including 47 percent who provide on-the-job training.
- Plans are growing. 84 percent plan to increase their use of technology over the next two to three years.
What it means for an owner-run business
Whether to use AI is mostly settled. The practical question is how it is used and who stays in control. A reported link between AI use and growth is not proof that AI caused it, and the report does not say every tool pays off.
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Source
U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Empowering Small Business: The Impact of Technology on U.S. Small Business (fifth edition), published October 2, 2026.