BALTIMORE, MARYLAND — Gov. Wes Moore on Oct. 1, 2026, convened the Maryland Innovation Summit in Baltimore with about 400 leaders from government, business, labor, philanthropy, and academia. At the summit, the Maryland State Innovation Team released the Maryland Business AI Benchmark Report, a survey of senior decision-makers on AI adoption, productivity, and workforce effects.
"Marylanders should not have to wait for Washington to decide what this technology will mean for their jobs, their families, and their communities," Moore said.
The Innovation Team says two-thirds of surveyed businesses reported a dedicated AI budget. Capital and technical assistance ranked as the most helpful potential state interventions, followed by AI pilot programs and talent pipelines. The release also notes that in September the Innovation Team launched the Maryland Community Compass small-business platform; it has served more than 18,500 active users and was deployed alongside $14 million in new state funding.
The governor’s office called the Maryland Innovation Summit the first major convening since the administration’s AI Framework and data-center executive order.
| Maryland Business AI Benchmark survey responses (fielded June–July 2026) | Finding |
|---|---|
| Respondents | Nearly 300 senior decision-makers |
| Any AI use | 91% |
| Basic use | 58% (standalone tools / built-in features) |
| Regular users reporting productivity gain (self-reported) | 92% |
| Existing staff do more with AI (vs hire) | 64% |
| Expect AI to reduce headcount | 4% |
Source: Office of the Governor
Drawn from public records; drafted with AI and edited by Peter Gorman before publication.
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