Fewer than one in five small firms have built AI into their business models, survey finds
Source: The Irish Times· Stephen Conneely· August 9, 2026
SynaBot summary
A recent survey indicates that a small fraction of Irish small businesses, just 18%, have integrated AI into their operations. The majority are either not using AI or are only employing it in very basic ways, highlighting a substantial gap in strategic adoption.
Key takeaways
- Barely one-fifth of small firms are using AI strategically.
- Most small businesses are hesitant or unaware of AI integration.
- A large gap exists between basic AI use and business model integration.
- Opportunity exists to demonstrate AI's business value.
Why it matters
This data suggests many small businesses are missing out on AI's potential for efficiency and growth. For AI users and tool developers, this represents a significant opportunity to educate and demonstrate AI's value beyond simple tasks, driving wider adoption and innovation.
This story was reported by The Irish Times. Read the full original article:
Read on The Irish Times Try this on SynaBot
Related AI assistants, prompts, and tools from the SynaBot catalog.
AI Tools
- FivetranFivetran automates the process of extracting, loading, and transforming data from various sources into a data warehouse. It simplifies data pipeline management for analytics.
- Thankful AI AgentThankful AI Agent is an autonomous AI customer service solution designed to resolve a wide range of customer queries. It integrates with existing systems to provide seamless support across email, chat, and social media, reducing manual workload.
- Thankful AIThankful AI offers an intelligent customer service automation platform that understands complex inquiries and resolves them autonomously. It integrates with existing systems to provide personalized support across channels, enhancing customer experience.
