Exclusive: How small businesses are really using AI around the country

Data: Goldman Sachs; Chart: Erin Davis/AxiosSmall businesses across America are embracing AI, but usage and spending vary dramatically by state, according to exclusive Goldman Sachs data shared with Axios.The big picture: Companies nationwide, big and small, are figuring out how best to incorporate AI into their workforces and what that means for productivity.By the numbers: The survey of 2,474 small business owners who graduated from or participated in Goldman Sachs' 10,000 Small Businesses program found 86% of program graduates use AI in their workplaces.In the Washington, D.C., area, 88% of 187 sampled businesses have fully integrated AI, with nearly half actively using it for their work.The most common use for D.C. small businesses was for productivity, which includes taking notes, writing e-mails and documenting processes.Zoom in: Business owners across states have various reasons for using AI.In Texas, 86% of the 185 businesses surveyed say they fully integrate AI, with 71% of them using AI for generating written marketing content more than anything else.Out of the 69 Florida graduates surveyed, 93% say they have fully integrated AI. Of those who use it, 77% say they mainly …

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