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Artificial intelligence has become one of the most discussed topics in business, often accompanied by warnings that companies must adopt it or risk falling behind. But new survey data suggests a different story may be unfolding around AI for small business.
According to the Small Business Expo Research Desk (n = 521), nearly four in five small business owners say AI is more useful than it was a year ago. At the same time, most report feeling little or no pressure to use it.
The findings suggest that AI adoption among small businesses may be driven less by fear of missing out and more by practical value. As AI tools continue to improve, many businesses appear to be embracing them because they solve real problems—not simply because they feel obligated to keep up.
Highlights
- 78.9% say AI is more useful than it was a year ago
- 45.5% say AI is much more useful than it was a year ago
- 28.8% say AI has helped most with research
- 26.9% say AI has helped most with advertising
- 63.7% report little or no pressure to use AI
AI’s Value Is Growing
The clearest finding in the survey is how dramatically perceptions of AI usefulness have shifted.
Nearly half of respondents (45.5%) say AI is much more useful than it was a year ago, while another 33.4% say it is slightly more useful. Combined, 78.9% report that AI has become more useful over the past year.
By contrast, only 5.0% say AI is less useful than it was a year ago.
The findings suggest that AI for small business is moving beyond experimentation and becoming a practical tool for everyday operations and decision-making. Rather than remaining experimental technologies, many AI tools appear to be becoming practical business resources.
Recent research from McKinsey similarly found that organizations are reporting broader AI adoption and increasingly measurable business value from generative AI initiatives.¹
Research Is One of the Top Uses of AI for Small Business
One of the most surprising findings in the data is where businesses are finding the most value.
When asked which marketing task AI has helped with most, the leading response was research (28.8%), narrowly ahead of advertising (26.9%) and content creation (21.9%).
This challenges the common perception that AI’s primary role in marketing is writing blog posts or social media content.
Instead, many businesses appear to be using AI to gather information, explore ideas, analyze markets, and support planning decisions. The findings suggest that AI’s value may increasingly lie in helping business owners think and make decisions more efficiently, rather than simply generating content.
Deloitte has also reported growing use of AI for analysis, research, and decision support, reflecting a shift beyond content generation alone.²
Most Businesses Don’t Feel Pressured to Use AI
Another notable finding is the relatively low level of adoption pressure reported by respondents.
More than one-third (34.7%) say they feel no pressure to use AI, while another 29.0% report only slight pressure. Together, 63.7% fall into the low-pressure categories.
Only 36.1% report significant or extreme pressure to use AI.
This stands in contrast to the broader public conversation around artificial intelligence, which often emphasizes urgency and disruption. While businesses clearly recognize AI’s growing usefulness, most do not appear to feel forced into adoption.
AI Adoption May Be Driven by Value, Not Pressure
Taken together, the findings point to an important distinction.
If businesses felt significant pressure to adopt AI but saw limited benefits, the data would suggest adoption was being driven by fear of falling behind. Instead, the opposite appears to be true.
Nearly four in five respondents say AI is becoming more useful, while most report little or no pressure to use it. That combination suggests businesses may be adopting AI because they see tangible value in it. For many respondents, the growing appeal of AI for small business appears to be tied to measurable usefulness rather than external pressure or industry hype.
In other words, AI adoption among small businesses may increasingly be driven by opportunity rather than obligation.
According to Salesforce research, businesses are increasingly evaluating AI based on practical outcomes such as productivity, efficiency, and customer value rather than adopting new tools solely because of industry trends.³
What This Means for Small Businesses
As AI tools continue to evolve, the challenge for many small businesses may no longer be deciding whether AI matters. Instead, the more relevant question may be where these tools provide the greatest value.
The survey suggests that research, planning, and advertising are emerging as important use cases alongside content creation. Businesses that focus on practical applications tied to specific goals may be better positioned to benefit from AI than those adopting tools simply because they are popular.
The findings also suggest that small businesses are approaching AI pragmatically. Rather than embracing every new tool, many appear to be evaluating AI based on whether it helps them work more efficiently and make better decisions.
Final Takeaway
The data suggests that AI is becoming increasingly valuable to small businesses. Nearly four in five respondents say AI is more useful than it was a year ago, with research emerging as the most commonly cited benefit.
As AI for small business continues to mature, many owners appear to be evaluating these tools through a practical lens: whether they help solve problems, improve efficiency, and support better decisions.
At the same time, most business owners report little or no pressure to adopt AI. That combination points to a notable shift: small businesses may be embracing AI not because they feel they have to, but because they increasingly see a clear business case for using it.
Footnotes
- McKinsey & Company. The State of AI: How Organizations Are Rewiring to Capture Value.
https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/the-state-of-ai - Deloitte Insights. The State of Generative AI in the Enterprise.
https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/focus/cognitive-technologies/generative-ai-survey.html - Salesforce. State of AI Research.
https://www.salesforce.com/resources/research-reports/state-of-ai/
Related: Most Small Businesses Compete on Service, Not Price