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Almost half of large companies in Mexico already use AI. Three ways to start in your business this week
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According to Banco de México, 48.5 % of Mexican companies with more than 100 employees already use artificial intelligence, and smaller firms use it less. Starting costs nothing: replying to Google reviews, translating your menu or services and writing your business description can all be done free with ChatGPT or Gemini in about 15 minutes.
In September, Banco de México (Mexico’s central bank) published its latest survey on artificial intelligence in business: in June 2026, 48.5 % of companies with more than 100 employees said they use at least one AI tool. In September 2025 it was 24.3 %, although the bank notes the two surveys asked slightly different questions, so it should not be read as "it doubled".
The survey also shows that the smaller the company, the lower the adoption: 69.9 % among firms with more than 1,000 employees versus 43.7 % among those with 101 to 250. Small businesses are not even surveyed, and the bank warns that use there "would seem to be lower". The same pattern shows up on both sides of the border: the businesses that would gain the most are the ones that have not started.
The good news is that what helps a small business most is not an expensive system. It is the weekly tasks AI can handle in minutes. Here are three, with the exact prompt to give ChatGPT or Gemini (the free versions are enough).
1. Reply to your Google reviews, including the bad ones
Almost nobody replies to reviews, especially the bad ones, because it is hard to answer without sounding defensive or robotic. Google lists it among its tips for local businesses: replying shows you value customer feedback and helps your business stand out. On top of that, the number of reviews and your rating do count toward showing up higher on the map.
How to do it: copy the review (without the person’s name) and paste this into ChatGPT:
I run a taco shop in San Diego. A customer left this 2-star review: "[paste the review]". Write a short, friendly reply with no excuses that acknowledges what happened, says what we will do about it and invites them back. Make it sound like a person, not a corporation.
Before posting, fix anything that is not true (do not promise a discount you will not give) and add your own touch. It takes a couple of minutes per review. For good reviews, ask for "three short thank-you replies, each one different" and rotate them.
2. Your menu or services in Spanish
More than 40 million people in the US speak Spanish at home, and in border cities that share is much higher. If your menu, price list or Google profile is only in English, those customers have a harder time choosing you. Translating used to cost money; now it takes minutes.
Translate this auto repair price list into Spanish for customers in Chula Vista. Keep it simple and clear, use the words people in Mexico and the border area actually use, and keep the prices in dollars: "[paste your list]".
Careful: AI gets dish names, medical terms and local expressions wrong. Ask a Spanish speaker to read it before you print it or upload it. Once it is ready, add it to your Google profile, your website and a QR code at the counter.
3. Your business description on Google and Facebook
Many profiles have an empty description or one that says "we are a leading company committed to quality", which tells nobody anything. Google recommends complete, detailed business information because it makes you more likely to show up in local search. It is also exactly what ChatGPT and other assistants read when someone asks them for a recommendation.
Write my business description for Google and Facebook, 700 characters max, without words like "leading" or "quality". Details: [what you sell], in [neighborhood and city], for [type of customer], hours [days and times], what makes us different: [one or two concrete things]. The first sentence should say what we do, where and for whom.
Use the same text on Google, Facebook and your website: when all three match, search engines and AI assistants trust the information more. We explain why this matters in why your business doesn’t show up on Google or ChatGPT.
The three uses in one table
| Use | Tool | Time | Cost | What you gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Replying to Google reviews | ChatGPT or Gemini (free) | 2 minutes per review | $0 | Customers see you respond; an active profile |
| Menu or services in Spanish | ChatGPT or Gemini + someone to review it | 15–30 minutes | $0 | Spanish-speaking customers understand what you offer |
| Business description | ChatGPT or Gemini (free) | 10 minutes | $0 | Clear information for Google and AI assistants |
What not to hand over to AI
- Your customers’ personal data: full names, phone numbers, addresses or records. For a review, the text is enough.
- Prices, hours or promotions you have not checked: AI makes things up with great confidence.
- Fake reviews: besides breaking Google’s rules, they are easy to spot and cost you trust.
Sources
- Banco de México, "Business opinion on the adoption of artificial intelligence in Mexico and its impact on employment and productivity" (in Spanish), Regional Economies Report April–June 2026, Box 4.
- Banco de México, "Business opinion on the adoption and use of artificial intelligence and automation" (in Spanish), Regional Economies Report July–September 2025, Box 1.
- Google, "Tips to improve your local ranking on Google", Google Business Profile Help.
- Bloomberg Línea, "How many companies in Mexico use AI in 2026? What a Banxico survey says" (in Spanish), September 21, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
How many companies in Mexico use artificial intelligence?
According to Banco de México’s June 2026 survey, 48.5 % of companies with more than 100 employees use at least one AI tool. Among firms with 101 to 250 employees it is 43.7 %. The bank does not measure small businesses and notes that use there would seem to be lower.
Do I need to pay to use AI in my business?
Not to start. The free versions of ChatGPT and Gemini are enough to reply to reviews, translate a menu or write your business description. Paying makes sense once you use it every day and need more capacity, not before.
Is it safe to paste my business information into ChatGPT?
Your business’s public information (menu, hours, services, reviews without names) is fine. Do not paste your customers’ personal data, such as phone numbers, addresses or records, or any passwords or banking details.
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