KC AI Scorecard · Week of September 14, 2026

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.

Observer (2): T-Mobile (legacy Sprint HQ) (22) · Hammerspace (12)

Silent (68): Oracle Health (formerly Cerner) (9) · University Health (Truman Medical Centers) (9) · Hallmark Cards (5) · Russell Stover Chocolates (5) · Price Chopper (5) · Folly Theater (5) · C2FO (5) · EquipmentShare (5) · HCA Midwest Health (5) · Jackson County, MO (5) · Port KC (5) · H&R Block (0) · Garmin (0) · Black & Veatch (0) · Burns & McDonnell (0) · AMC Theatres (0) · Commerce Bank (0) · Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que (0) · Q39 (0) · Arthur Bryant's Barbeque (0) · Gates Bar-B-Q (0) · Jack Stack Barbecue (0) · Stroud's (0) · Plaza III The Steakhouse (0) · The Town Company (0) · Westport Cafe & Bar (0) · Manifesto (0) · Cosentino's Markets (0) · Hen House Market (0) · Westlake Ace Hardware (0) · Hall's Kansas City (0) · Made in Kansas City (0) · Fleet Farm (0) · Helzberg Diamonds (0) · Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts (0) · Union Station Kansas City (0) · Crown Center (0) · Worlds of Fun (0) · KC Streetcar Authority (0) · RideKC (KCATA) (0) · Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium (0) · BacklotCars (Openlane) (0) · InQuest (0) · Lockton (0) · Ascend Elements (0) · Dexios (0) · Zentech (0) · Digital Recognition Network (0) · Children's Mercy Kansas City (0) · Saint Luke's Health System (0) · University of Kansas Medical Center (0) · North Kansas City Hospital (0) · Olathe Health (AdventHealth) (0) · KC Care Health Center (0) · City of Kansas City, MO (0) · City of Olathe (0) · Johnson County, KS (0) · Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (0) · University of Missouri-Kansas City (0) · University of Kansas (0) · Rockhurst University (0) · Johnson County Community College (0) · Avila University (0) · Park University (0) · Metropolitan Community College (KC) (0) · Webster University, Kansas City (0) · Kansas City Public Library (0) · Notre Dame de Sion School (0)

Hammerspace jumped +5 points this week to 12/100 — a meaningful move into stronger Observer territory.

Strongest signal: public announcements + press (6/10).

Recent signals: - TipRanks: Hammerspace Highlights AI Data Strategy at Korea Supercomputing Conference - TipRanks: Hammerspace Gains Recognition In 2026 AI Storage Performance Rankings - TipRanks: Networking Initiative Underscores Hammerspace Focus on AI Infrastructure

Web: hammerspace.com · Category: Tech Startups

Garmin lost 4 points this week, dropping to 0/100. Visibility on AI initiatives appears to be cooling.

No dimension yet scores above 0/10. Most of their AI work, if any, is still under wraps.

Recent signals: _No signals observed yet — they may still be operating quietly._

Web: www.garmin.com · Category: Corporate HQs

T-Mobile (legacy Sprint HQ) holds steady at 22/100 — a Observer in the AI race.

Strongest signal: public announcements + press (8/10).

Recent signals: - Fierce Network: T-Mobile CTO: AI is making disaster response faster, smarter - Leadership-context mention in Fierce Network: T-Mobile CTO: AI is making disaster response faster, smarter - rcrwireless.com: Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile poach from AWS, GE Vernova – as AI talent loop widens

Web: www.t-mobile.com · Category: Corporate HQs

University Health (Truman Medical Centers) holds steady at 9/100 — a Silent in the AI race.

Most visible signal so far: AI tooling on their website (3/10) — but most dimensions are still light.

Recent signals: - CHATBOT FOOTPRINT: Live AI/interactive chatbot footprints discovered on site homepage (livechat). - simplywall.st: How Investors Are Reacting To Zebra Technologies (ZBRA) Expanding AI‑Ready Bedside Devices At University Health

Web: www.universityhealthkc.org · Category: Healthcare

Price Chopper holds steady at 5/100 — a Silent in the AI race.

Most visible signal so far: AI tooling on their website (3/10) — but most dimensions are still light.

Recent signals: - CHATBOT FOOTPRINT: Live AI/interactive chatbot footprints discovered on site homepage (zendesk).

Web: www.mypricechopper.com · Category: Retail

- Corporate HQs: T-Mobile (legacy Sprint HQ) — 22/100 (Observer) — - Restaurants & Bars: Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que — 0/100 (Silent) — - Retail: Price Chopper — 5/100 (Silent) — - Local Services: Folly Theater — 5/100 (Silent) — - Tech Startups: Hammerspace — 12/100 (Observer) ↑ +5 - Healthcare: University Health (Truman Medical Centers) — 9/100 (Silent) — - Government: Jackson County, MO — 5/100 (Silent) — - Education: University of Missouri-Kansas City — 0/100 (Silent) —