How AI can help your small business

Many small companies think AI tools are beyond them, but they are easy to use

Two workers using AI on computer screen
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Despite the hype around artificial intelligence – and particularly generative AI – many small businesses assume the technology is not for them. They worry that AI tools will be prohibitively expensive, require high-level technical know-how and expose them to risks they don’t understand.

That’s unfortunate – not only as many businesses will miss out on the benefits that AI offers, but also because many tools aren’t complicated or expensive. Indeed, there’s a good chance you’re already using AI to good effect without even realising it – many of the improvements made to the software that even small companies routinely use to manage their businesses are underpinned by AI technology of one type or another. In practice, the only way you’re going to become more comfortable with AI is by actually using it. Here are nine simple-use cases for AI.

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David Prosser
Business Columnist

David Prosser is a regular MoneyWeek columnist, writing on small business and entrepreneurship, as well as pensions and other forms of tax-efficient savings and investments. David has been a financial journalist for almost 30 years, specialising initially in personal finance, and then in broader business coverage. He has worked for national newspaper groups including The Financial Times, The Guardian and Observer, Express Newspapers and, most recently, The Independent, where he served for more than three years as business editor.