AI Pulse · AI Trends Pulse

A growing number of small businesses are moving past AI experiments and putting it into real parts of the operation. In a GTIA survey of 520 SMB and microbusiness decision-makers, 40% said they were using AI tactically. Another 50% described themselves as AI-invested, meaning AI is already being used in operations or customer-facing work. The more telling number is this, 50% already work with a strategic partner or IT service provider on AI, and a further 12% are considering it.

That makes sense. Most owners do not need another tool to trial. They need someone who can help choose the right use cases, connect systems, set rules, and keep work moving after the initial setup. AI can save time in customer service, reporting, sales follow-up, and internal admin, but only if it fits into how the business already runs. The findings come from GTIA’s survey report.

The gap is governance. Only 44% of respondents have an acceptable-use policy. If staff are using public AI tools with customer data, financial information, pricing, or internal documents, that policy cannot wait. Start with clear rules on approved tools, what data can be entered, who owns AI outputs, and where human review is required. This is the kind of thing we build into an AI command centre, alongside the practical workflows that create value without creating unnecessary risk.