- According to Statistics Canada (June 2026), 19.2% of Canadian businesses used AI to produce goods or provide services in the second quarter of 2026, compared to 6.1% in 2024.
- Finance and insurance are among the most advanced sectors in Canada, with 40.4% AI adoption in 2026 (Statistics Canada).
- AI-based decision-making systems have more than doubled in one year among users, rising from 5.7% to 13.7% (Statistics Canada, 2026).
- In Quebec, 12.7% of businesses used AI for production purposes according to the Institut de la statistique du Québec (November 2025).
The executive team wants to know if the company is falling behind on AI. Someone mentions a competitor that has supposedly automated its order entry, while another doubts it’s cost-effective. No one around the table has reliable data to settle the debate.
That data is now available.
In the second quarter of 2026, 19.2% of Canadian businesses used AI to produce goods or provide services—three times more than in 2024, according to Statistics Canada.
Where does AI adoption stand in Canadian business?
AI adoption in Canadian business reached 19.2% in the second quarter of 2026, up from 12.2% in 2025 and 6.1% in 2024, according to Statistics Canada. The proportion has tripled in two years, and there is no sign of it plateauing.
However, the most telling figure from the survey lies elsewhere. Two out of five businesses (40.0%) state that AI is not relevant to them. One in five is already using it, while two in five have stopped looking into it. The competitive advantage of the coming years will be won in that gap.
These results come from the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions, conducted from April to May 2026 with 9,251 responding businesses, making it the most robust measure available in the country.
In Quebec, the Institut de la statistique du Québec estimated usage at 12.7% of businesses for the 12 months preceding the second quarter of 2025. The next update will show whether Quebec is following the Canadian trend or falling behind.
Which sectors are leading AI adoption in 2026?
The information and cultural industries (42.3%), finance and insurance (40.4%), and professional services (32.4%) have the highest AI adoption rates in Canada, according to Statistics Canada (2026).
Sector benchmarks for the second quarter of 2026:
- Information and cultural industries: 42.3%
- Finance and insurance: 40.4%
- Professional, scientific, and technical services: 32.4%
- Businesses with 100 or more employees: 27.8%
- Canadian average, all sectors: 19.2%
- Construction: 9.2%
- Wholesale trade: 7.9%
Size matters just as much as sector. More than one in four businesses with 100 or more employees is already using AI. A distributor or manufacturer that thinks it is safe should look at the finance sector: that is where its clients, insurers, and bankers are equipping themselves.
What are businesses actually doing with AI?
Data analysis (36.6%), text analysis (34.5%), and virtual agents (28.2%) are the most common AI uses among Canadian users in 2026, according to Statistics Canada.
The fastest-growing use case is further down the list. AI-based decision-making systems jumped from 5.7% to 13.7% in one year—more than doubling. Businesses are moving from summarizing documents to AI-supported operational decision-making.
We are seeing the same trend in ERPs, where agentic AI is becoming embedded in financial processes. Accounts receivable automation is a perfect example of this shift: payments are applied to the correct invoices instead of just generating another report.
What obstacles are still slowing down AI adoption in business?
Cybersecurity and privacy, cited by 13.4% of businesses, rank ahead of cost (10.6%) as the top barriers to AI use in Canada in 2026.
For companies with 100 or more employees, this concern rises to 30.0%. The caution is well-founded: connecting a model to customer or financial data requires a framework for access and data governance before the first use case is even launched.
The 2026 divide separates companies that integrate AI into their core processes from those that keep it on the periphery.
AI is also changing teams. Among users, 44.4% have modified their training or staffing practices, and 30.2% of businesses with 100 or more employees have brought in consultants or external providers, again according to Statistics Canada.
Where do you start without an AI roadmap?
Start with a measurable operational pain point, one process at a time, rather than with the latest trendy tool.
In our ERP mandates and AI workshops at PlanAxion, the use cases that survive the first quarter all pass the same test: a problem to solve, expected value, available data, and a realistic level of effort required.
That is the approach of our four-week AI workshop: prepare, identify, prioritize, validate data, then decide and deliver. The investment varies based on scope and is confirmed during a short discovery call.
What should you do with these figures before the end of 2026?
National averages won't make decisions for you. They simply indicate that your competitors, your customers, and your bankers are moving forward. If your sector shows 40% adoption, waiting on the sidelines becomes a risky position. If it’s hovering at 8%, you have a window of opportunity to get ahead at a low cost.
Frequently asked questions about AI adoption in business
How many businesses are using AI in Canada in 2026?
According to Statistics Canada, 19.2% of Canadian businesses used AI to produce goods or provide services in the second quarter of 2026. This proportion has tripled since 2024, when it stood at 6.1%. Businesses with 100 or more employees reached 27.8%, and urban businesses reached 21.0%.
What is the main obstacle to AI adoption in business?
Cybersecurity and privacy concerns are at the top of the list, cited by 13.4% of Canadian businesses in 2026, ahead of cost at 10.6%. Among businesses with 100 or more employees, this proportion reaches 30%. A clear framework for data and access resolves a large portion of these concerns.
Which Canadian sectors are the most advanced in AI?
The information and cultural industries lead with 42.3% adoption, followed by finance and insurance at 40.4%, and professional, scientific, and technical services at 32.4%. At the other end of the spectrum, wholesale trade (7.9%) and construction (9.2%) remain largely in observation mode.
How should a company get started with AI?
Start with a specific operational pain point rather than a technology. Evaluate each idea based on the problem to be solved, expected value, available data, and required effort, then test a single measurable use case. A structured workshop lasting a few weeks is often enough to turn scattered ideas into a prioritized roadmap.
