From the telephone to the internet to AI, ignoring the wave has never ended well
It’s not just tech giants. Small business owners are now staring down a truth they can’t dodge: AI is here, and it’s not waiting around for anyone to catch up. Those who lean in may survive—or even thrive. Those who don’t? History hasn’t been kind to them.
If that sounds dramatic, it should. Because that’s how Levi King, a serial entrepreneur who’s done everything from sign repair to fintech, puts it. And he’s not alone.
Looking back to look forward
It helps to rewind the tape.
There was a time when the telephone felt unnecessary. A flashy invention that some thought too complicated, too expensive. But the businesses that said yes early? They were the ones who outpaced competitors, talked to clients instantly, and scaled faster.
Others just… didn’t make it.
Same story with the internet. In the ’90s, some shop owners thought websites were fads. A few lines of code turned out to be the difference between thriving online stores and shuttered brick-and-mortars.
Now AI’s knocking. And it’s louder than both of those combined.
Why this wave feels different
AI isn’t just one tool. It’s dozens, sometimes hundreds, all rolled into one concept. From automated emails to customer chatbots to tools that literally write product descriptions for you—it’s not just for tech bros anymore.
And it’s already happening.
One small bakery in Texas cut customer support time by 70% by using an AI chatbot to handle custom cake inquiries. A real estate agent in Georgia now uses AI to write listing descriptions and analyze market trends faster than her competitors. And a mechanic shop in Ohio boosted customer retention just by letting AI flag high-priority clients for follow-ups.
One sentence. That’s all it takes to show how fast this is moving.
Still think AI’s only for Silicon Valley?
The fear factor is real
Of course, it’s not all rainbows. Small business owners are worried—rightfully so.
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“What if I pick the wrong software?”
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“What if it replaces my team?”
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“What if I just can’t keep up?”
Fair questions. But there’s a bigger one lurking: What if ignoring AI costs me everything?
Because here’s the tough part—AI isn’t waiting for your business to be “ready.” It’s evolving whether you like it or not.
What small business owners can do right now
You don’t have to become an AI expert overnight. But doing nothing? That’s not the move either. Here’s what business owners are doing right now to dip their toes in:
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Using ChatGPT or Claude to write marketing emails or ad copy
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Automating scheduling with tools like Calendly and Motion
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Analyzing cash flow patterns with tools like QuickBooks AI or Zoho Books’ smart assistants
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Setting up basic customer support bots on Messenger or WhatsApp
None of these take weeks to learn. Most are plug-and-play. Some are even free.
Just pick one pain point—marketing, scheduling, invoicing—and try an AI tool that handles it.
AI doesn’t mean firing your staff
A lot of owners fear AI means layoffs. But for most, it actually means doing more with the same team.
Think of it like this: if one of your employees had a super-smart assistant that worked 24/7, never got tired, and didn’t need lunch breaks… wouldn’t that help everyone?
AI isn’t here to take over every task. It’s here to handle the boring stuff. The repetitive, mind-numbing, manual things that slow your team down.
Let AI handle the spam. You focus on the strategy.
That’s how many are already using it—and it’s working.
Some data to chew on
Here’s what recent surveys from late 2024 and early 2025 say about small business AI adoption:
| Survey / Source | Key Stat |
|---|---|
| QuickBooks Small Business Report | 51% of U.S. small businesses now use at least one AI tool weekly |
| Shopify SMB Tech Trends Survey | 63% say AI improved customer satisfaction in under 3 months |
| SCORE / SBA Poll | Only 27% feel “confident” about their AI knowledge |
| McKinsey State of AI in Business | 78% of small companies using AI saw revenue growth in 6 months or less |
Plenty of people are still unsure. But the ones who do take the leap? They’re seeing results fast.
What ignoring AI really costs
Let’s not sugarcoat it.
AI is already reshaping how business is done. It’s changing customer expectations, speeding up decision-making, and automating what used to take hours—or entire departments.
Ignoring it doesn’t keep you “safe.” It just makes you slower.
Eventually, someone else in your space will figure it out. They’ll run leaner. Market smarter. Deliver faster. And customers? They’ll notice.
Then it’s not about catching up anymore. It’s about staying alive.
