Subj : Many small businesses say they're "too scared" to use AI
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Fri Sep 27 2024 10:30:05

Many small businesses say they're "too scared" to use AI

Date:
Fri, 27 Sep 2024 09:28:00 +0000

Description:
Small businesses are calling out for simpler integrated AI tools to boost 
adoption.

FULL STORY
======================================================================

Around one in three (31%) of Britains small businesses are hesitant to deploy 
AI despite its potential positive impact on productivity and efficiency. 

According to new data from hiring platform Indeed, many small business 
leaders expressed concerns about employee resistance and the potential for 
mishaps. 

Around two in five said that they were worried AI could disrupt their 
operations (38%), and a similar number (39%) suggested that it would be safer 
to stick with more familiar methods as opposed to introducing new and less 
proven technologies. SMBs are cautious about AI 

The consequences of this fear could be detrimental to the UKs economy, the 
survey warned, as small businesses make up 99.2% of the nations business 
population. 

Indeed revealed that leaders are also unsure about their employees using 
artificial intelligence. One-quarter (26%) were concerns about resistance 
from staff, while 43% said that unauthorized AI usage by their workers could 
harm their operations. 

AI adoption among SMBs hasnt been a total disaster, though. If 31% are 
hesitant, that leaves 69% who are prepared to invest in artificial 
intelligence solutions. Half of those surveyed (49%) agree that AI could 
increase efficiency, while nearly as many (44%) say that the tech could 
reduce time-consuming, low-value and repetitive workloads. 

The benefits extend further into employees personal lives, too   nearly a 
quarter (24%) suggested that AI could enable their company to consider a 
four-day work week. 

Looking ahead, its clear that simpler solutions are needed. Two in five (40%) 
are asking for more easy-to-use AI products, and around a third (29%) prefer 
AI features to be integrated into their existing systems, rather than having 
to go out and learn an entirely new platform. 

Small businesses are the backbone of the UKs economy and its imperative that 
they are able to grow and adapt to new technologies," said Caroline Barbour, 
Senior Marketing Manager for SMB at Indeed. 

Its important that small businesses have the support they need to navigate 
this wave of AI adoption, and are set up with easy-to-use tools, or features 
that integrate within their existing product suite. More from TechRadar Pro 
Many businesses aren't sure exactly how employees get their work done Check 
out our roundup of the best online collaboration tools These are the best AI 
tools and best AI writers



======================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/pro/many-small-businesses-say-they-re-too-scared-to-
use-ai


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64)
 * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)

.