More than half of U.S. small businesses now use artificial intelligence in their operations, double the amount from 2023, according to a U.S. Chamber of Commerce report. AI helps save time, resources, and allows for tailored services to compete with larger companies. Some states are more willing to use AI than others, citing concerns around tool quality, cost, and legal issues.

Top 10 states with small businesses using AI: Maine 77%, Connecticut/Nebraska 72%, Kansas 69%, Illinois 67%, Hawaii 66%, Louisiana/Oregon/Wyoming 65%, Arizona 64%. Bottom 10 states: Wisconsin/North Carolina 49%, North Dakota/Minnesota/Nevada 47%, Iowa 48%, Tennessee 46%, New Hampshire 44%, Vermont 41%, West Virginia 31%.

Majority of small businesses use AI tools for customer engagement and inventory management. 44% use generative AI chatbots, 20% use AI coding tools, and 16% utilize image creation tools. 8% create their own AI tools, while 62% use external tools like ChatGPT. 80% accelerated AI implementation due to competitor usage.

Businesses use AI to teach employees new skills, with 40% providing direct training and 41% offering AI tools for self-training. Over one-third of small businesses use AI in their hiring process, including scanning for AI experience. AI adoption is driven by competitiveness and the need to stay ahead in technology.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: These Are The Top States Using AI in Small Businesses. Is Yours on the List?