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.
The full field — 70 businesses by tier
Observer (2): T-Mobile (legacy Sprint HQ) (18) · Oracle Health (formerly Cerner) (15)
Silent (68): H&R Block (8) · Hallmark Cards (5) · Russell Stover Chocolates (5) · Price Chopper (5) · C2FO (5) · EquipmentShare (5) · University Health (Truman Medical Centers) (5) · HCA Midwest Health (5) · City of Kansas City, MO (5) · Jackson County, MO (5) · Lockton (4) · University of Missouri-Kansas City (4) · University of Kansas (4) · 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) · Folly Theater (0) · Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium (0) · BacklotCars (Openlane) (0) · Hammerspace (0) · InQuest (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 Olathe (0) · Johnson County, KS (0) · Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (0) · Port KC (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)
Spotlight: City of Kansas City, MO
City of Kansas City, MO jumped +5 points this week to 5/100 — a meaningful move into stronger Silent territory.
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 (chatbot).
Web: www.kcmo.gov · Category: Government
Spotlight: Hammerspace
Hammerspace lost 3 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: hammerspace.com · Category: Tech Startups
Spotlight: T-Mobile (legacy Sprint HQ)
T-Mobile (legacy Sprint HQ) holds steady at 18/100 — a Observer in the AI race.
Strongest signal: public announcements + press (9/10).
Recent signals: - TelecomLead: Telecom news: T-Mobile AI, FCC, SpaceX, Vodacom - RCR Wireless News: T-Mobile uses AI to reshape network investment and resilience - TMForum - Inform: How AT&T and T-Mobile are architecting networks to gain an AI advantage
Web: www.t-mobile.com · Category: Corporate HQs
Spotlight: Price Chopper
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
Spotlight: C2FO
C2FO 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 (intercom).
Web: www.c2fo.com · Category: Tech Startups
Category leaders
- Corporate HQs: T-Mobile (legacy Sprint HQ) — 18/100 (Observer) — - Restaurants & Bars: Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que — 0/100 (Silent) — - Retail: Price Chopper — 5/100 (Silent) — - Local Services: Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts — 0/100 (Silent) — - Tech Startups: C2FO — 5/100 (Silent) — - Healthcare: University Health (Truman Medical Centers) — 5/100 (Silent) — - Government: City of Kansas City, MO — 5/100 (Silent) ↑ +5 - Education: University of Missouri-Kansas City — 4/100 (Silent) ↑ +4