U.S. Businesses Flock to Paid AI Tools in Record Numbers
A record number of U.S. businesses have adopted paid artificial intelligence (AI) tools in 2026, according to data from Ramp.
The adoption rates are highest among technology and media firms, with 80.6% now paying for AI tools, the highest share on record.
Finance and insurance companies aren't far behind, with 73.1% now holding paid AI subscriptions, up sharply from roughly 60% in December 2025.
The rapid growth reflects how deeply AI has embedded itself in core financial functions, including risk modeling, fraud detection, and regulatory compliance.
Major institutions such as JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM), Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:GS), and Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:BAC) have deployed AI tools.
The trend is spreading into traditionally less tech-intensive industries, with manufacturing adoption reaching a record 60.4%, making it the third-highest sector tracked, nearly doubling since the start of 2025.