The U.S. Census Bureau released new data from the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS) on April 23, providing updated information about business conditions, projections, and the adoption of artificial intelligence by businesses.
The BTOS offers ongoing insights into the state of employer businesses in the United States, excluding farms. The survey is designed to deliver continuous and timely data for key economic measures every two weeks. This information is used by officials at various levels of government as well as businesses to support policymaking and decision-making.
A recent addition to the BTOS includes supplemental questions about how businesses are using artificial intelligence. These questions were included in the survey between November 17, 2025, and February 8, 2026. The resulting data—now available for download—show differences in AI adoption across industries, states, and firm sizes. They also provide details on how AI is being used within companies, what types of tasks it supports, and how it is changing work practices.
According to the Census Bureau’s description of BTOS operations, approximately 1.2 million businesses participate in biweekly data collection through a rotating panel system that allows each selected business to report every twelve weeks over a year-long period. On average, respondents spend about nine minutes completing each survey round.
Data from BTOS are released biweekly with breakdowns by sector, state, and among the twenty-five most populous metropolitan statistical areas. By capturing geographic and subsector detail continuously—including during events like natural disasters or economic crises—the survey helps monitor recovery efforts as well as inform both public policy responses and private sector strategies.
