AI Myths for Small Businesses Debunked

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been all over the news. Some people have been raving about it while others have spoken out against it. There has especially been chatter about what AI means for small businesses. With so many different voices talking about it at once, it’s easy for misinformation to run wild.

On May 9th, from 8:30am – 10am, we’ll be having an in-person workshop called AI for Small Business. We’ll debunk myths about Artificial Intelligence and how it affects small businesses. However, you don’t need to wait for the workshop to learn about this new technology. Here are three AI Myths debunked.

Myth: AI is Only for Big Businesses

AI is one of those things that sounds so futuristic you assume only big businesses like Microsoft or Amazon could ever afford to use it. You’re probably imagining some massive supercomputer that can talk to you and basically run the company itself. However, in reality there are many affordable AI programs out there that perform many functions. 

Most of the time, AI programs are only really expensive if they’re custom-built software created for a specific company. These are typically built for companies that are enormous or have a specialized purpose that no other software could handle. As a small business, however, you’d be looking for a more economical option. Thankfully, you’ll have plenty of options with ready-made, third party software.

Myth: AI Steals Jobs

Let’s be clear; a computer program cannot “steal” a job. However, a human employer can give a job to an AI. But while some jobs will be handed over to AI programs, new jobs will be created. 

It’s predicted that by 2025, 85 million jobs will be replaced by AI and automation, but 97 million new jobs will emerge. Employers must be ready to fill them and not just leave them empty. It’s all about treating AI as a tool to be used, not as a replacement for employees.

AI also isn’t perfect. While it has been drastically improving, it is still capable of making mistakes, which can be costly. Human oversight will always be necessary to ensure that data has been properly entered and customers are getting the support they need. 

Myth: You Need to Be a Tech Wiz to Use AI

If you’re worried that you’re going to need a certified genius to use an AI program, you’re in luck – most are extremely simple! They’re designed to not need much human input and be ready to use, so they don’t need much technical know-how to install or manage. That being said, it is important to keep up with the latest technology, so even if it’s easy to install, be sure to do your research so you’re not missing out on great features or benefits.

If you’re interested in learning more about how AI is changing industries across the board, you can’t miss our AI for Small Business workshop. Register for this and our other workshops to learn more about how your small business can grow.

Categorised in: Technology, Workshops