US companies expand AI use as worker access rises in 2025

In short: More US companies are putting AI into everyday work, and many expect much wider use within months.

What's going on

US private companies are adopting AI quickly. Worker access to AI tools rose about 50% in 2025, according to the New York Times report. Many companies also expect to double the share of their AI projects that are “in production,” meaning the tools are actually used in day to day work, not just tested.

The changes are showing up in results people can feel at work. About 66% of businesses say AI is helping them get more done with the same staff, and 53% say it helps with decisions. But the shift is uneven, only 34% say they are truly changing what they sell or how they operate, and 37% say their AI use is mostly surface-level.

A big driver is employees bringing AI into work on their own. More than 90% of workers report using personal AI tools, even though only about 40% of companies pay for official subscriptions. Some employers are starting to track and reward AI use. The report says Amazon links AI use to efficiency measures and even promotion decisions, and similar approaches are emerging at Meta and Accenture.

The Trump Administration’s approach also matters here. Recent policies described in the report favor competition among American companies over broad global rules for AI.

What to watch

More “agentic AI” is expected next. That is AI that can take actions on its own, like a digital assistant that does tasks step by step. Only about 20% of companies say they have mature oversight for this, so mistakes, security issues, and unclear responsibility are risks to watch.

Source: NYTimes