Small businesses nationwide are rapidly adopting artificial intelligence (AI) and already seeing meaningful benefits, but most remain in early stages and say additional support is needed to unlock AI’s full potential, according to a new survey from Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices.
Key takeaways:
· More than three-quarters of small businesses (76%) report currently using AI, with the majority stating that results have been overwhelmingly positive.
· 93% of those using AI say it has had a positive impact on their business, and 84% cite increased efficiency and productivity as the primary benefit.
· Looking ahead, small business owners are bullish on AI’s role in their growth: 67% expect AI to increase revenue and they largely see it as a tool to enhance their workforce, while 87% say AI augments rather than replaces employees.
· Yet a significant gap remains between adoption and full integration. Only 14% say AI is fully embedded in their core operations.
· Many cite barriers to deeper integration, such as lack of technical expertise, difficulty choosing tools, and data privacy concerns. As a result, 73% of small businesses would benefit from additional access to training and implementation resources.
