Small firms’ use of artificial intelligence remains “shallow” according to a new survey of businesses.
The survey of 404 companies – conducted by Amárach Research on behalf of the Small Firms Association – found that the vast majority of firms were using AI tools.
However 92% of firms were using off-the-shelf models – like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Microsoft’s Copilot.
Only 30% of firms said they were working with customised models, which were specifically tailored to their needs. However that figure compares favourably to the 22% which said they were using customised models last year.
Of the companies that said they were using a specially-designed model, nearly two-thirds said it boosted business efficiency, while almost half said it improved the speed of service delivery to customers.
Of those that were not relying on tailored systems, nearly one-third said they did not have the technical expertise to do so. 28% said they did not have time to investigate the technology.
Meanwhile a lack of finance was cited by 17% of the firms.
The SFA has called on Government to use funding and training channels that already exist through the National Training Fund to help small firms get to grips with AI.
“Small businesses are feeling the squeeze of spiralling operational costs,” said SFA director David Broderick. “AI has the unmatched potential to dramatically boost productivity and lower overheads, but owners simply do not have the hours in the day, technical staff or finances to figure out how to deploy it strategically.
“If our small business community is going to survive alongside large corporate competitors, they cannot do it alone.”
