2026 Big Survey on Signs & AI

How many are using AI and what for, opinions, worries and more.

Published

3 days ago

March 12, 2026

Signs of the Times Staff Signs of the Times March 2026 Issue

AI & Signs

LARGE — DARE WE say seismic — shifts in the use of AI in signwork as well as attitudes towards it. While nearly a third have no fear of AI, 2 in 3 sign pros have at least one worry.

30. Is your sign company currently using artificial intelligence (AI) for any aspect of the business?

BIG CHANGES FROM 2025. Yes (35%), no but soon (26%) and no don’t plan to (39%). Among those not planning to use AI soon, 10 think AI will hinder the industry but 8 think it will help.

31. Do you think that during the next five years, on the whole, AI will help, hinder or have a neutral effect on the sign industry?

COMPARE TO 2025. Help (46%), hinder (9%), neutral (24%), no clue (21%). After a year, opinions are solidifying, with “help” up a third, but also “hinder” up by close to half.

32. What does your sign company use AI for, if anything? (Check all that apply.)

Management
23%
Sales
26%
Marketing
41%
Communications
33%
Design
50%
Fabrication
5%
Installation
2%
Nothing
24%
Other (email only, individual use)
2%

GET MORE. We are surveying Brain Squad monthly in 2026 on AI. Find results in the “Buzz Session” section of ST magazine. Join the Brain Squad at signsofthetimes.com/brainsquad.

33. How has your opinion of AI in general changed, if at all, in the past year or so?

To a lot better
22%
To a little better
29%
No change
27%
To a little worse
8%
To a lot worse
6%
No opinion
7%
Other (“Always thought it would be a valuable tool if used correctly.”)
1%

HMMMMMM. 7 of 10 responding “a little worse” do not currently use AI, while the other 3 use it only for design. Among the 8 “a lot worse,” 4 use AI for design and 4 plan to use it soon.

34. What, if anything, worries you the most about AI?

It will render my creative contributions obsolete
10%
It will replace jobs, possibly my own
1%
It will make signs lacking originality or style
24%
It will become self-aware like Skynet in The Terminator
9%
All of the above
12%
Nothing, I’m not worried about AI
32%
Other (unrealistic expectations, customers using AI, laziness, not sure)
12%

WHAT, ME WORRY?. Despite concern about AI becoming self-aware, 9 of those 12 respondents feel AI will help our industry during the next 5 years. None thinks it will hinder.

Go to part 5 Sign Pros on Exploring the World.

Signs of the Times Staff

Signs of the Times has been the world leader in sign information since 1906. Contact Signs of the Times' editors at [email protected].

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