SMEs Face Survival Crisis as AI Adoption Becomes Business Imperative...

Failure to adopt artificial intelligence is no longer about missing opportunities—it's a threat to business survival

Britain's small businesses are running out of time. As artificial intelligence becomes standard business infrastructure, companies that haven't started using it risk being left permanently behind.

"It's not just about gaining an advantage," warns AI and healthcare technology specialist Keshav Sankla "It's about survival. When everyone else is creating faster, supporting more customers, and working more efficiently—if you're not doing that, it's very difficult to compete."

ChatGPT reached 100 million users faster than any technology in history. More importantly, the most powerful AI tools are now available to any business with an internet connection. The playing field between small firms and corporations has levelled—but only for those who act.

How to Get Started: Practical Steps for SMEs...

The key is starting with problems, not technology. "If AI is a solution, what's the problem?" says Kesh. "Look at your business pain points—what takes too much time? What's repetitive? What's high value but low risk?"

Good starting points include:

Writing content and social media posts
Answering customer questions
Summarising data and reports
Managing internal knowledge and processes

But buying tools isn't enough. You need to change how your business works. "Make AI normal. Reward people who use it. Create time for teams to experiment and share what they learn," Keshav advises.

David Stone, CEO of Prompt Business Strategies, agrees: "Successful companies aren't necessarily the biggest—they're the ones who understand AI is how modern businesses compete. We help SMEs find where AI solves real problems and build the right business around it."

Don't try to transform everything overnight. Start small with low-risk tasks. Keep humans involved. Share results across teams. Build confidence gradually.

The Window Is Closing...

AI isn't slowing down—it's speeding up. Competition between tech companies means tools get better whilst getting cheaper. "What took 10 years now takes two years. What took two years now takes six months," says Kesh. "And that's accelerating."

Businesses waiting for the "right moment" will find their competitors have already moved too far ahead.

Privacy concerns? Often overblown, according to Kesh: "In a world where people can build products quickly, what really needs protecting? Your true advantages can't be copied anyway." Use privacy settings, avoid genuinely sensitive information, but don't let fear stop you.

The message is clear: AI adoption is no longer optional. As Kesh puts it: "Business leaders need to start right now. This will accelerate, and you don't have a choice."