Whether you love it, loathe it, or are still on the fence, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming an increasingly vital part of running our businesses. For small businesses especially, AI provides immense opportunity to be more efficient, reduce costs and find smarter ways of doing things which are more effective.
Recent research by House 337 and Savanta, which surveyed 7,000 respondents globally, reveals powerful insights into AI trends that small businesses must act on. Coupled with our own expertise and experience working with business owners over the past two years, we’ve summarised our top takeaways.
1. Generative AI is already in the workplace
An impressive 71% of the UK general public have heard of generative AI and 35% of workers report using AI tools as part of their daily jobs. From content creation to data analysis, AI has moved beyond tech companies and into nearly every industry and many job functions. When used wisely, AI enables small businesses to optimise processes, nurture leads, and improve customer service benefiting most departments.
At Sharp Thinking, we’ve immersed ourselves in AI for two years, seeing first-hand how small and medium-sized businesses save time, reduce costs, and boost productivity. Business owners who were adverse to it are amazed at how user-friendly and transformative these tools can be. With AI handling repetitive tasks and so much more, businesses can focus on strategic growth, innovation and staff development.
2. Education and open communication is needed
43% of people admit they don’t fully understand AI which is a huge proportion and highlighting a key barrier to widespread use. To harness AI’s potential, small businesses must prioritise clear transparent communication, ensuring both staff and customers understand its benefits.
Training both staff and customers about AI’s capabilities can help dispel misconceptions and build trust. For internal teams, using trials of different AI tools can help to get buy in and ensure they’re the right tools for your businesses. If you do run a trial, ensure that productivity is tracked over time. Showing direct time savings and improvements can help to ease concerns and foster enthusiasm. Interestingly, in the SBEC survey nearly half of small businesses introduced AI tools in the past year, and many companies advised they’d used these cost savings to increase wages and company benefits, showing it’s not all about increasing profits.
3. AI fuels creativity
AI isn’t just logistical—it’s creative too. Around 40% of people use it for tasks like content writing which is on the top of the list, while 37% use it to generate imagery and videos. For small businesses, this opens up cost-effective and time-saving ways to market products and services.
Initially, many creative professionals feared job losses and had major concerns over the quality of output and IP. Although, there is a still a long way to go, the platforms have evolved and improved enormously in the last two years and advertising and creative professionals have slowly embraced AI. Not only does it allow small businesses especially to offer more diverse services, such as photography and animation, alongside traditional graphic design for example, but it also fast-tracks projects meaning that you can complete projects quicker. Platforms like Midjourney and Adobe Firefly have made a huge impact on the industry.
4. Enhanced research
Generative AI is proving to be a game-changer for research too. AI tools like Perplexity are becoming a researchers, sales person and marketers best friend allowing you to search more naturally for information and taking a more conversational approach. One standout advantage of tools like Perplexity is their ability to provide real-time, backed-up information—perfect for sales teams conducting prospect research or marketers generating tailored campaign ideas.
5. Virtual assistants are revolutionising productivity
AI-powered virtual assistants like Otter.ai, Read Meeting Assistant and Microsoft Copilot are becoming indispensable allies for productivity and being rolled out almost everywhere supporting every platform. These tools can transcribe meetings, take control of diary management, data entry, automate emails and scheduling tasks. The list is endless allowing you to be more efficient, follow up quicker with your clients and make considerable savings. In fact the SBEC survey found small businesses have experienced significant time and cost savings due to AI with 93% admitting that AI tools drive savings.
6. Consumer concerns still need addressing
While AI opens up endless possibilities, barriers like privacy, security, and ethics persist. Trust is one of the most pressing issues for generative AI, with 39% of users worried about transparency and 30% concerned about data privacy.
For small businesses, it’s critical to address these concerns openly and implement robust data protection measures to ensure transparency, build trust, and uphold ethical standards. Seek help from a GDPR expert, to get professional advise. The British Bank also provide some great tips. By prioritising responsible AI use, businesses can enhance customer confidence, foster long-term relationships, and deliver a positive, secure experience for all users.
7. AI’s sustainability potential
AI isn’t just about profits—it also has the potential to support sustainability efforts. From reducing energy usage in operations to streamlining supply chains, AI aligns with the eco-conscious values that modern customers are increasingly drawn to.
8. Investing in AI training is non-negotiable
Without relevant training, even the best AI tools might fail to deliver the desired results for your business. To maximise returns on your AI investments, teach your team how to create detailed prompts, analyse outputs, and apply insights effectively.
At Sharp Thinking, we’ve run workshops to help skeptical business owners and teams harness AI to overcome challenges—from crafting creative content to streamlining marketing operations. With the right training, businesses can get better use from AI and realise how quick and impactful it is.
Take action today
With over one-third of professionals planning to use AI more in the next 12 months, small businesses can’t afford to delay adoption. Early adopters will be best positioned to stay ahead of competitors while enjoying the productivity and cost-saving benefits AI offers.
While using AI strategically can drive remarkable transformation, remember that it’s a tool—not a replacement for human expertise. Critical thinking, empathy, and human-driven decision-making remain essential for success.
Read more from the blog including B2B marketing trends and 10 common small business marketing mistakes and how to avoid them.
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