70 Kansas City businesses ranked on AI adoption signals — 0 Innovators, 0 Movers, 70 still finding their lane.
Why this scorecard exists
Every Monday morning, The Kansas City Group ranks 70 prominent KC businesses on the visible AI adoption signals they're putting out into the world.
Six dimensions — each scored 0-10, weighted total 0-100: - Public announcements + press — weighted 20% - AI/ML job postings — weighted 15% - AI tooling visible on their website — weighted 15% - Social-media AI content cadence — weighted 10% - Leadership commentary on AI (interviews, panels, op-eds) — weighted 20% - Disclosed AI vendor partnerships — weighted 20%
Tiers: Innovator (75-100) · Mover (55-74) · Experimenter (30-54) · Observer (10-29) · Silent (0-9).
What this isn't: a judgment of which companies are secretly doing AI well behind closed doors. The scorecard measures public visibility of AI work — what a customer, journalist, or job-seeker would notice. Some of the silent companies may be world-class AI shops that just don't talk about it.
Spotlight: Manifesto
Manifesto lands on the scorecard for the first time this week with a 22/100 total — placing them in the Observer tier.
Strongest signal: public announcements + press (9/10).
Recent signals: - Startup Fortune: Vijay positions Tamil Nadu as India’s AI powerhouse with bold TVK promises - MSN: TMC manifesto promises glorifying Bengali language, making it AI-ready - Startup Fortune: AI is turning the office into a room of quiet commands
Web: www.manifestokc.com · Category: Restaurants & Bars
Spotlight: University Health (Truman Medical Centers)
University Health (Truman Medical Centers) lands on the scorecard for the first time this week with a 20/100 total — placing them in the Observer tier.
Strongest signal: public announcements + press (9/10).
Recent signals: - CancerNetwork: The Evolution of Artificial Intelligence in Oncology: Impact on Trials, Workflows, and Outcomes - Ohio Tech News: The cognitive rust belt is here: Why AI fluency needs anti-stagnation infrastructure - University of Waterloo: Working with industry to build trustworthy AI for real-world impact
Web: www.universityhealthkc.org · Category: Healthcare
Spotlight: H&R Block
H&R Block lands on the scorecard for the first time this week with a 18/100 total — placing them in the Observer tier.
Strongest signal: public announcements + press (9/10).
Recent signals: - Yahoo Finance Singapore: Is Intuit Inc. (INTU) One of the Best American AI Stocks to Buy Now? - TipRanks: H&R Block Earnings Call Highlights Growth and AI - The Globe and Mail: HRB Q1 Deep Dive: Assisted Channel Stability and AI-Driven Client Experience Fuel Outlook
Web: www.hrblock.com · Category: Corporate HQs
Spotlight: Hammerspace
Hammerspace lands on the scorecard for the first time this week with a 18/100 total — placing them in the Observer tier.
Strongest signal: public announcements + press (9/10).
Recent signals: - TipRanks: Hammerspace Targets AI and HPC Data Workloads at RMACC 2026 Symposium - TipRanks: Hammerspace Positions AI Data Platform for Unified Global Data Environments - TipRanks: Hammerspace Targets Government AI Infrastructure Opportunities
Web: hammerspace.com · Category: Tech Startups
Spotlight: University of Kansas
University of Kansas lands on the scorecard for the first time this week with a 18/100 total — placing them in the Observer tier.
Strongest signal: public announcements + press (8/10).
Recent signals: - Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News: Gastric AI Detection GLP1 Gut Motility Insights - Kansas Reflector: Our pledge to the people of Kansas: We don't use artificial intelligence to write stories or columns - Digital Information World: Research finds journalism classes lack consistent approach to AI use across institutions
Web: www.ku.edu · Category: Education
Corporate HQs · Top 5
| Rank | Business | Score | Tier | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | H&R Block | 18/100 | Observer | 🆕 NEW |
| 2 | T-Mobile (legacy Sprint HQ) | 18/100 | Observer | 🆕 NEW |
| 3 | Oracle Health (formerly Cerner) | 16/100 | Observer | 🆕 NEW |
| 4 | Garmin | 14/100 | Observer | 🆕 NEW |
| 5 | AMC Theatres | 14/100 | Observer | 🆕 NEW |
Restaurants & Bars · Top 5
| Rank | Business | Score | Tier | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manifesto | 22/100 | Observer | 🆕 NEW |
| 2 | Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 3 | Q39 | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 4 | Arthur Bryant's Barbeque | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 5 | Gates Bar-B-Q | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
Retail · Top 5
| Rank | Business | Score | Tier | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fleet Farm | 14/100 | Observer | 🆕 NEW |
| 2 | Cosentino's Markets | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 3 | Hen House Market | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 4 | Price Chopper | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 5 | Westlake Ace Hardware | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
Local Services · Top 5
| Rank | Business | Score | Tier | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 2 | Union Station Kansas City | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 3 | Crown Center | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 4 | Worlds of Fun | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 5 | KC Streetcar Authority | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
Tech Startups · Top 5
| Rank | Business | Score | Tier | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hammerspace | 18/100 | Observer | 🆕 NEW |
| 2 | Lockton | 8/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 3 | Zentech | 8/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 4 | EquipmentShare | 4/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 5 | C2FO | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
Healthcare · Top 5
| Rank | Business | Score | Tier | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University Health (Truman Medical Centers) | 20/100 | Observer | 🆕 NEW |
| 2 | Children's Mercy Kansas City | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 3 | Saint Luke's Health System | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 4 | University of Kansas Medical Center | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 5 | North Kansas City Hospital | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
Government · Top 5
| Rank | Business | Score | Tier | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Kansas City, MO | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 2 | City of Olathe | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 3 | Jackson County, MO | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 4 | Johnson County, KS | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 5 | Kansas City Area Transportation Authority | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
Education · Top 5
| Rank | Business | Score | Tier | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Kansas | 18/100 | Observer | 🆕 NEW |
| 2 | Johnson County Community College | 6/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 3 | University of Missouri-Kansas City | 4/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 4 | Avila University | 4/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 5 | Rockhurst University | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
Full leaderboard · 70 businesses
| Rank | Business | Category | Score | Tier | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manifesto | Restaurants & Bars | 22/100 | Observer | 🆕 NEW |
| 2 | University Health (Truman Medical Centers) | Healthcare | 20/100 | Observer | 🆕 NEW |
| 3 | H&R Block | Corporate HQs | 18/100 | Observer | 🆕 NEW |
| 4 | T-Mobile (legacy Sprint HQ) | Corporate HQs | 18/100 | Observer | 🆕 NEW |
| 5 | Hammerspace | Tech Startups | 18/100 | Observer | 🆕 NEW |
| 6 | University of Kansas | Education | 18/100 | Observer | 🆕 NEW |
| 7 | Oracle Health (formerly Cerner) | Corporate HQs | 16/100 | Observer | 🆕 NEW |
| 8 | Garmin | Corporate HQs | 14/100 | Observer | 🆕 NEW |
| 9 | AMC Theatres | Corporate HQs | 14/100 | Observer | 🆕 NEW |
| 10 | Fleet Farm | Retail | 14/100 | Observer | 🆕 NEW |
| 11 | Lockton | Tech Startups | 8/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 12 | Zentech | Tech Startups | 8/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 13 | Burns & McDonnell | Corporate HQs | 6/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 14 | Johnson County Community College | Education | 6/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 15 | EquipmentShare | Tech Startups | 4/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 16 | University of Missouri-Kansas City | Education | 4/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 17 | Avila University | Education | 4/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 18 | Hallmark Cards | Corporate HQs | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 19 | Russell Stover Chocolates | Corporate HQs | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 20 | Black & Veatch | Corporate HQs | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 21 | Commerce Bank | Corporate HQs | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 22 | Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que | Restaurants & Bars | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 23 | Q39 | Restaurants & Bars | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 24 | Arthur Bryant's Barbeque | Restaurants & Bars | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 25 | Gates Bar-B-Q | Restaurants & Bars | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 26 | Jack Stack Barbecue | Restaurants & Bars | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 27 | Stroud's | Restaurants & Bars | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 28 | Plaza III The Steakhouse | Restaurants & Bars | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 29 | The Town Company | Restaurants & Bars | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 30 | Westport Cafe & Bar | Restaurants & Bars | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 31 | Cosentino's Markets | Retail | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 32 | Hen House Market | Retail | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 33 | Price Chopper | Retail | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 34 | Westlake Ace Hardware | Retail | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 35 | Hall's Kansas City | Retail | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 36 | Made in Kansas City | Retail | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 37 | Helzberg Diamonds | Retail | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 38 | Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts | Local Services | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 39 | Union Station Kansas City | Local Services | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 40 | Crown Center | Local Services | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 41 | Worlds of Fun | Local Services | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 42 | KC Streetcar Authority | Local Services | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 43 | RideKC (KCATA) | Local Services | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 44 | Folly Theater | Local Services | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 45 | Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium | Local Services | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 46 | C2FO | Tech Startups | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 47 | BacklotCars (Openlane) | Tech Startups | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 48 | InQuest | Tech Startups | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 49 | Ascend Elements | Tech Startups | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 50 | Dexios | Tech Startups | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 51 | Digital Recognition Network | Tech Startups | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 52 | Children's Mercy Kansas City | Healthcare | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 53 | Saint Luke's Health System | Healthcare | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 54 | University of Kansas Medical Center | Healthcare | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 55 | North Kansas City Hospital | Healthcare | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 56 | HCA Midwest Health | Healthcare | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 57 | Olathe Health (AdventHealth) | Healthcare | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 58 | KC Care Health Center | Healthcare | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 59 | City of Kansas City, MO | Government | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 60 | City of Olathe | Government | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 61 | Jackson County, MO | Government | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 62 | Johnson County, KS | Government | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 63 | Kansas City Area Transportation Authority | Government | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 64 | Port KC | Government | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 65 | Rockhurst University | Education | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 66 | Park University | Education | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 67 | Metropolitan Community College (KC) | Education | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 68 | Webster University, Kansas City | Education | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 69 | Kansas City Public Library | Education | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |
| 70 | Notre Dame de Sion School | Education | 0/100 | Silent | 🆕 NEW |