DALLAS, TX — More than one in four businesses in Dallas-Fort Worth said they were using artificial intelligence in July, placing North Texas ahead of New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, according to a new WeWork analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data.
The region’s AI adoption rate reached 26% in July, up from just over 20% in January. That increase also put Dallas-Fort Worth above the 22% national average and underscored how quickly the technology is spreading through the local business community.
Large companies are moving faster than smaller ones
The analysis showed a familiar split across the U.S. economy: bigger companies are adopting AI more quickly than smaller businesses. Nationally, 39% of the largest firms reported using AI in July, while only 21% of the smallest firms said the same.
WeWork said AI remains a relatively new technology that is still advancing unevenly. Even with that uneven pace, the report found 29% of respondents expected to adopt AI within the next six months, suggesting more businesses are preparing to experiment with the tools.
That pattern helps explain why adoption levels can vary widely from one metro area to another. In places with larger corporate footprints, the technology appears to be taking hold more quickly than in communities dominated by smaller employers.
North Texas compares with other major metros
WeWork’s findings put Dallas-Fort Worth at about the same level as Miami, while several other large tech and business centers posted slightly higher rates. Seattle, San Francisco and Boston all came in above North Texas.
By comparison, greater New York was around 18%, greater Los Angeles about 20%, and greater Chicago about 22%. Phoenix, Portland and St. Louis were all below Dallas-Fort Worth, along with New York and Los Angeles.
The numbers highlight how North Texas has moved ahead of several traditional business hubs in early AI use, even as the technology continues to spread unevenly across the country.
The Census survey behind the numbers
WeWork based its analysis on the Census Bureau’s Business Trends and Outlook Survey, which asks more than 1 million businesses nationwide whether they used AI in the prior two weeks.
That broad survey base gives the findings a wide snapshot of how companies are using the technology. It also means the numbers reflect current use, not long-term planning or vague interest.
In Dallas-Fort Worth, the July figure marks a noticeable jump from January, when adoption was a little above 20%. The rising percentage suggests the region has been moving steadily from early curiosity toward active use.
AI adoption adds to Dallas-Fort Worth's tech momentum
The WeWork analysis arrives alongside other signs that Dallas-Fort Worth is strengthening its reputation as a technology center. Separate CompTIA data, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics figures, found nearly 11,000 tech-related job postings in the region this summer, the third-highest total among U.S. metro areas.
That hiring activity points to continued demand for workers with technical skills, even as businesses adopt new digital tools. It also suggests local employers are not only testing AI, but expanding the broader talent base needed to support it.
For North Texas, AI adoption is becoming part of a larger story about growth in tech employment and business investment.
CBRE ranks D-FW among top North American tech markets
CBRE has also placed Dallas-Fort Worth high on its list of tech markets, ranking the region the eighth-best North American market for tech talent. Among Texas metros, it trailed only Austin.
In CBRE’s view, Dallas-Fort Worth also outranked Vancouver, Denver and greater Los Angeles, reinforcing the area’s standing beyond Texas and the Southwest. Those rankings, together with the AI adoption figures, point to a region that is drawing both jobs and attention.
For businesses and workers in North Texas, the combination of stronger tech hiring, improving AI use and favorable market rankings suggests the metro is becoming an increasingly important player in the national technology landscape.
What the latest figures may mean for local businesses
The latest adoption data suggests AI is no longer limited to a small group of early adopters in Dallas-Fort Worth. Instead, more local companies appear to be moving from observation to use, especially among larger employers.
That shift could shape how firms handle productivity, hiring and day-to-day operations over the next year. It may also widen the gap between large companies with more resources and smaller businesses that are still deciding whether to invest.
Even so, the overall trend in North Texas is clear: more businesses are using AI, more are planning to use it soon, and the region is increasingly being measured against the country’s biggest business centers.
What the latest figures may mean for local businesses
The latest adoption data suggests AI is no longer limited to a small group of early adopters in Dallas-Fort Worth. Instead, more local companies appear to be moving from observation to use, especially among larger employers.
That shift could shape how firms handle productivity, hiring and day-to-day operations over the next year. It may also widen the gap between large companies with more resources and smaller businesses that are still deciding whether to invest.
Even so, the overall trend in North Texas is clear: more businesses are using AI, more are planning to use it soon, and the region is increasingly being measured against the country’s biggest business centers.
