Artificial intelligence adoption among U.S. small businesses has increased sharply over the past year, but organizations are struggling to develop the skills needed to use the technology effectively.
Thryv’s 2026 AI and Small Business Adoption Survey found that 66% of small businesses now use AI, compared with 55% a year earlier.
At the same time, 70% of respondents said they need more or significantly more training to use AI productively.
The findings suggest the primary barrier to greater value from AI may increasingly be skills rather than access to the technology.
Small Businesses Are Increasing AI Spending
AI adoption is translating into higher technology spending.
One-third of respondents said they are spending more on AI than they were 12 months ago, and 53% spend at least $100 per month on AI tools.
Businesses also reported measurable returns from those investments.
Seventy percent said AI contributed to increased revenue during the previous year, while 55% said it reduced costs.
Another 61% estimated that AI will save their businesses between $500 and $2,000 per month.
Training Remains Fragmented
Small businesses are using a variety of resources to improve their AI skills rather than relying on formal training programs.
The survey found 57% use YouTube and social media as their primary source of AI training, while 49% use online resources and webinars.
One-third of respondents turn directly to AI tools such as ChatGPT for guidance on how to use AI.
The results highlight a potential challenge for businesses attempting to automate more processes.
Employees may become increasingly comfortable interacting with AI without necessarily having the expertise required to evaluate its output or determine where automation is appropriate.
AI Is Producing Significant Time Savings
Productivity remains one of the strongest drivers of adoption.
Among businesses using AI, 92% said it saves them time.
Seventy-nine percent expect AI to save between 11 and 60 hours each month, while one-third of small business owners said the technology allows them to accomplish more with fewer employees.
The survey indicates that businesses are primarily using those gains to increase productivity rather than immediately eliminate jobs.
Fifty-five percent said they hired the same number of employees they had planned to hire over the previous year. Thirteen percent reported hiring fewer employees because of AI.
More Businesses Would Choose AI Over Hiring
Attitudes toward future hiring could be changing more quickly.
When asked whether they would choose AI software or a new employee if both could perform a task equally well, 46% selected AI.
That represents an eight percentage point increase from the 38% recorded in 2025.
For organizations developing automation strategies, the findings point to a broader shift.
Small businesses increasingly see AI as an operational tool capable of affecting revenue, costs and staffing requirements. The next challenge is ensuring employee capabilities develop quickly enough to match the technology being deployed.
Thryv’s survey was conducted in April 2026 among 561 U.S. small and midsized business decision-makers who were not Thryv customers.