BTOS AI Supplement Nonsub

U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Census Bureau
OMB Information Collection Request
Business Trends and Outlook Survey
OMB Control Number 0607-1022
Non-Substantive Change Request

On May 29, 2025, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the three-year extension of the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS), including the planned Artificial Intelligence (AI) supplement, with the condition that the Census Bureau submit the final AI content via a non-substantive change request following the completion of cognitive testing and analysis.

Attached is the finalized AI supplement (highlighted in yellow). This version reflects improvements to capture how businesses use AI, including Generative AI, across a broad range of business functions. Most core questions from the original AI supplement remain, with minor refinements to skip logic and language. The estimated respondent burden is 20 minutes.

Updates:

• Expanded coverage of AI usage across business functions beyond production.

• New questions to assess employees use of AI and Generative AI, responding to stakeholder interest in understanding adoption and task-level applications.

• The previous applications/technologies question has been replaced with two new items one focused on AI techniques and the other on business functions in an attempt to enhance conceptual clarity and response quality.

• Minor updates to the work-task effects question to emphasize different effects of AI on work related tasks.

Notes:

• Two rounds of cognitive tests were conducted, which concluded on June 20, 2025.

• The 20-minute burden estimate is based on recent cognitive testing.

• The AI supplement will be collected for a single cycle of the BTOS in December 2025, with data release in early 2026.

• AI content remains one of the most requested BTOS products, with strong interest from federal agencies, researchers, and national media.