The Pulse
Maryland Finds 91% of Surveyed Businesses Use AI, Mostly in Basic Ways
Maryland released a statewide business AI benchmark on October 1, finding that 91% of surveyed decision-makers report some AI use, while most describe basic tools rather than deeper integration. The survey also records modest productivity g
AI.info Team · Written with AI ·
Maryland’s new business AI benchmark finds broad use but limited integration: 91% of surveyed decision-makers say their organizations use some form of AI, yet 58% describe basic use such as standalone tools or features built into existing software. The survey, released October 1, also points to a gap between widespread adoption and its reported effects: most regular users describe productivity gains as slight, not significant.
The Maryland State Innovation Team gathered responses from nearly 300 senior decision-makers between June and July 2026. The results give the state a snapshot of how business leaders view AI, but they are survey responses, not an independent measurement of productivity or a census of every Maryland employer.
91% Report AI Use; Most Remain at the Basics
Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced the benchmark at the Maryland Innovation Summit in Baltimore, which brought together about 400 people from government, business, labor, philanthropy and academia. The survey’s headline adoption figure includes any reported AI use; the state says 58% of respondents rely on standalone tools or built-in features rather than deeper integration.
That distinction matters to the state’s ambitions. A business using an AI feature in existing software is counted alongside one that has integrated AI more deeply into its operations, although those uses may represent different levels of investment and organizational change. The release does not break down the reported 91% by industry, company size or type of AI tool.
Users Report Gains, Mostly Slight
Among regular AI users, 92% report a positive effect on productivity. But the improvement is usually modest: 70% describe it as slight, compared with 21% who call it significant. The figures reflect respondents’ assessments rather than measured changes in output or time saved.
Maryland Chief Innovation Officer Francesca Ioffreda said the state intends to use the findings to guide its response. “The Maryland Business AI Benchmark is our latest step: a clear view of how AI is affecting Maryland businesses, so the State can shape products, programs, and policies with ground-level data.”
Most Leaders Expect Existing Staff to Do More
The survey also records a workforce outlook that sits between expansion and displacement. Nearly two-thirds of businesses have a dedicated AI budget, and 64% plan for existing employees to do more with AI rather than hire additional staff. Just 4% expect AI to reduce headcount.
Those responses describe leaders’ plans, not a guarantee that jobs will remain unchanged as adoption develops. The benchmark’s figures nevertheless give state officials a measure of what surveyed decision-makers currently expect: more output from existing teams is far more common in their answers than explicit staff reductions.
Businesses Ask Maryland for Capital and Technical Help
Respondents named capital and technical assistance as the most helpful potential forms of state support, followed by AI pilot programs and talent pipelines. In open-ended responses, businesses most often asked for training, funding tailored to small businesses and affordable access to secure digital infrastructure.
Maryland released the benchmark as it convened business, labor and government leaders to discuss AI’s effects on workers and the economy. The survey gives the state a set of priorities to weigh against its policy agenda, while leaving a clear limitation: the reported adoption rate is high, but the state’s own figures show that most respondents have not moved beyond basic use.