Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant prospect for small businesses — it is already here, reshaping day-to-day operations and opening up new opportunities for growth.
According to new research from YouGov, 31% of UK SMEs are actively using AI-powered tools, while a further 15% say they plan to adopt them in the near future.
Just as AI has transformed wider society — with ChatGPT famously becoming the fastest-growing app in history by reaching 100 million users in just two months — business adoption is accelerating. The challenge now lies in knowing which tools to use, and how to balance automation with human oversight.
One reason for rising adoption is the sheer availability of AI solutions. Many businesses already have access through existing subscriptions. For example, Microsoft has embedded its Copilot AI assistant within Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams, giving users the ability to draft documents, analyse data and streamline communication.
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