Large companies are pulling back on AI adoption after the recent rush
The Census data suggests companies are shifting from FOMO-driven AI adoption to more evidence-based decisions about what actually works.
The Census Bureau's latest data shows AI adoption among large companies dropped from 14% to 12% between June and September—the biggest decline since tracking began in 2023. The biweekly Business Trends and Outlook survey covers 1.2 million U.S. firms, so this isn't just noise. Gizmodo reports this comes alongside MIT research showing most corporate AI pilots have failed to deliver material benefits.
So what this really shows is companies moving past the FOMO phase. The adoption rate climbed from 3.7% in September 2023 to over 14% earlier this year—that's the kind of hockey stick growth that usually signals hype more than value. Now we're seeing the natural correction as teams realize not every AI tool actually solves their problems.
For product and legal teams, this creates breathing room. The pressure to adopt everything AI-related is easing, which means you can be more strategic about what actually drives results for your specific use case. The companies succeeding with AI right now are the ones being deliberate about deployment, not just chasing trends.
Lucas Ropek
