Small Business and AI: Understanding Adoption and Building Support Systems

Date

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Time

10:00 a.m. PT

Location

San Francisco, CA

Summary

The Federal Reserve’s 2025 Small Business Credit Survey found that nearly half of small businesses are using AI, with an additional 15% planning to adopt AI in the next 12 months.

The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s EmergingTech Economic Research Network on May 19 to explored the implications of AI for small businesses on May 19, 2026 in a program that included:

  • A preview of forthcoming research on small business AI adoption, including differences between employer and nonemployer firms and emerging trends by industry.
  • A panel discussion with small business lending and technical assistance practitioners at the forefront of AI-driven changes across the small business ecosystem.

This was a virtual event hosted by the EmergingTech Economic Research Network (EERN). You can view the full recording on this page.

Agenda

Introductory Remarks

Speaker:

Kathleen Young, Federal Reserve Financial Services

Presentation: AI and Small Business: Findings from the 2025 Small Business Credit Survey

Speaker:

Natalie Holmes, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Panel Discussion: Small Business Development and AI: Opportunities and Challenges

Panelists:

Bulbul Gupta, Pacific Community Ventures

Hope Hartman, Larimer County, Colorado Small Business Development Center

Moderator:

Rocio Sanchez-Moyano, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Speakers

Kathleen Young
Executive Vice President and Chief of FedCash Services
Federal Reserve Financial Services

Natalie Holmes
Senior Researcher, Community Engagement and Analysis
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Rocio Sanchez-Moyano
Senior Researcher, Community Engagement and Analysis
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Bulbul Gupta
President & CEO
Pacific Community Ventures

Hope Hartman
Executive Director
Larimer County, Colorado Small Business Development Center

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