Labor Department Opens Public Comment on AI Usage Survey

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is preparing to launch the first federal survey linking Americans' artificial intelligence usage to detailed records of their daily activities, and it wants public input on how to design the data collection effort.

The agency opened a two-month comment period Friday for its American Time Use Survey on AI, which will run for two years beginning in January 2027. The initiative represents the federal government's first systematic attempt to understand how AI adoption is reshaping American life both inside and outside the workplace.

What the survey will measure

The new survey module will examine four core areas: whether individuals have used AI tools, which specific tasks those tools support, how usage patterns differ across demographic and occupational groups, and how AI use correlates with time spent on work, household activities, education, and leisure.

By combining AI-specific questions with the existing ATUS time diary — a continuous 24-hour activity record — researchers and policymakers will gain unprecedented insight into when, how, and why people turn to AI tools throughout their day.

According to the Federal Register posting, no other national survey currently provides this level of behavioral detail. While some federal surveys collect limited technology use data, none link AI adoption to comprehensive activity records.

Why it matters

Without reliable data on AI adoption patterns, policymakers and business leaders are making decisions about workforce development, education, and regulation based on anecdotal evidence rather than empirical research. This survey will establish a baseline understanding of AI's real-world impact during a period of rapid technological change, informing everything from skills training programs to labor market projections.

Seeking agency and public feedback

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is requesting comments on the survey's practical utility, methodology, and underlying assumptions. The agency specifically wants feedback that will enhance data quality and clarity while minimizing the burden on survey respondents.

The comment period fulfills requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, a standard step for all ATUS surveys. This pre-clearance consultation program ensures that requested data can be provided in the desired format and that collection instruments are clearly understood.

The BLS still needs clearance from the Office of Management and Budget for the new AI question module before the survey can proceed.

Congressional interest in AI workforce data

The survey initiative aligns with recent congressional efforts to improve government data collection on AI and employment. Senators Mark Warner and Ted Budd introduced legislation in May directing the Department of Labor to create a public resource containing aggregated workforce transparency data related to AI.

Separately, Labor's chief innovation officer indicated in April that the agency was close to completing an AI workforce hub — a portal designed to consolidate government and private-sector data on the technology's labor market effects.

Once collected, survey data will be used to produce technical documentation, tabulations, and microdata files that will be made publicly available.

These details were first reported by FedScoop.