Artificial intelligence adoption among U.S. small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) continues to accelerate, but many business owners acknowledge they are still learning how to use the technology effectively. According to Thryv's 2026 AI and Small Business Adoption Survey, two-thirds of SMBs now use AI in their operations, yet 70% say they need additional training to maximize its value, highlighting a growing gap between AI adoption and workforce readiness.

Artificial intelligence is becoming a mainstream business tool for small and medium-sized enterprises, but widespread adoption is exposing a new challenge: many business owners are implementing AI faster than they are developing the skills needed to use it effectively.

That is one of the central findings from Thryv's 2026 AI and Small Business Adoption Survey, which examined responses from 561 U.S.-based small and mid-sized business decision-makers across industries including construction, professional services, retail, restaurants, and personal services.

The report found that 66% of surveyed SMBs now use AI, representing a notable increase from 55% a year earlier. The findings suggest that AI is rapidly transitioning from an experimental technology into a core business productivity tool for Main Street businesses.

Despite this momentum, the survey reveals that adoption is outpacing proficiency. Seventy percent of respondents reported needing additional training to use AI effectively, even though 86% described themselves as somewhat or extremely comfortable using the technology.

The distinction between comfort and capability is becoming increasingly important as businesses integrate AI into everyday operations. While conversational AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and other generative AI tools have lowered technical barriers to entry, many organizations continue to struggle with implementing AI strategically and responsibly.

Rather than relying on structured corporate training programs, small business owners are largely educating themselves. According to the survey, 57% primarily learn through YouTube and social media, while 49% depend on online resources and webinars. One-third also use AI tools themselves to learn how to use AI more effectively, reflecting a growing trend of AI-assisted learning.

Industry experts caution that familiarity with AI interfaces should not be mistaken for operational expertise. Effective AI adoption requires understanding when AI-generated recommendations are reliable, where human oversight remains essential, and how AI can be integrated into existing business workflows.

The survey also indicates that AI is increasingly influencing workforce planning. Nearly 46% of respondents said they would choose AI software over hiring an additional employee if both could perform the same task equally well—an increase from 38% reported in 2025.

However, current hiring patterns suggest AI is complementing rather than replacing employees. More than half (55%) reported hiring the same number of workers as originally planned during the past year, while only 13% indicated that AI had reduced hiring.

Instead of workforce replacement, respondents primarily view AI as a productivity tool. Ninety-two percent of AI users said the technology helps them save time, with 79% expecting to recover between 11 and 60 hours per month—equivalent to several additional working days.

These productivity gains are translating into measurable business outcomes. According to the survey, 70% of SMBs reported revenue growth associated with AI adoption during the past year, while 55% said AI contributed to lower operating costs.

Financial investment in AI is also increasing. More than half (53%) of respondents now spend at least $100 per month on AI software, reflecting growing confidence in the technology's business value.

Among respondents, 61% estimated that AI could generate monthly savings between $500 and $2,000, while 81% said AI had improved their strategic decision-making by helping them allocate time and resources more effectively.

The findings align with broader industry research. A recent Goldman Sachs survey similarly reported that 73% of small businesses believe they require additional AI training to fully leverage emerging technologies. Together, the studies suggest that workforce enablement may become as important as technology investment in determining long-term AI success.

For marketers and customer-facing businesses, AI adoption is reshaping activities including content creation, customer communication, appointment scheduling, marketing automation, advertising optimization, and business analytics. However, the effectiveness of these applications increasingly depends on employees' ability to understand AI capabilities, validate outputs, and integrate automation into broader business strategies.

According to Gartner, AI literacy is becoming a critical organizational competency as enterprises expand generative AI across business functions. McKinsey & Company has likewise found that organizations combining AI investment with employee training and organizational change initiatives are significantly more likely to realize measurable business value.

For the broader SMB ecosystem, Thryv's research highlights a pivotal stage in AI adoption. Businesses are no longer deciding whether to implement AI—they are determining how to build the skills, governance, and operational practices necessary to use it effectively. As AI becomes embedded across sales, marketing, customer service, and business operations, the competitive advantage may increasingly belong to organizations that invest as much in people as they do in technology.

Market Landscape

Small and medium-sized businesses are rapidly adopting AI to improve productivity, automate repetitive work, and strengthen customer engagement. At the same time, organizations face growing demand for AI education, governance, and workforce development as employees integrate generative AI into daily business operations.

Research from Gartner identifies AI literacy as an emerging business priority, while McKinsey & Company reports that organizations combining AI implementation with workforce enablement achieve stronger business outcomes. These trends indicate that AI training is becoming a strategic investment alongside software adoption.

Top Insights

• 66% of surveyed U.S. SMBs now use AI, up from 55% a year ago, demonstrating continued acceleration in AI adoption across small businesses.
• Although 86% of business owners are comfortable using AI, 70% believe they require additional training to apply the technology effectively.
• AI is improving business performance, with 70% reporting revenue growth, 55% citing reduced costs, and 92% saying the technology saves time.
• Nearly half of respondents would choose AI over hiring another employee for equivalent tasks, although most businesses report no immediate changes to hiring plans.
• Growing AI investment and workforce upskilling suggest that long-term competitive advantage will depend on combining technology adoption with employee capability development.

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