Small Businesses Embrace AI Adoption: 41% Increase in Usage in 2025

According to a new survey by Thryv, small businesses have seen a 41% increase in AI adoption from 2024 to 2025, with 55% currently using AI. The majority of SMBs believe AI is essential to reaching new customers, with 80% saying it's necessary to meet rising consumer expectations for speed and personalization. AI is being used for marketing support, content marketing, and customer service, with users saving over 20 hours per month and $500 to $2,000 monthly.

A new survey by Thryv reveals a 41% increase in AI adoption among small businesses from 2024 to 2025, with 55% of SMBs now utilizing artificial intelligence [1]. This growth highlights the increasing importance of AI in small business strategies, as owners seek to save time, reduce costs, and compete more effectively in an unpredictable economy.

The survey, conducted in May 2025 and based on 540 interviews with small business decision-makers, found that AI adoption is particularly strong among companies with 10 to 100 employees, where usage jumped from 47% to 68% year-over-year [1]. Younger business owners and those in professional services and retail sectors are leading the charge, integrating AI into marketing, customer service, and operations.

The majority of small business users (80%) believe AI is essential to reaching new customers, and 78% say it’s necessary to meet rising consumer expectations for speed and personalization [1]. These perceived benefits far outweigh concerns about data security, which decreased 40% year over year.

Among current AI small business users, 63% use AI daily, with top applications including data analysis (62%), content generation (55%), and customer engagement tools like chatbots (46%) [1]. These users report saving over 20 hours per month and between $500 and $2,000 monthly, which they often reinvest into growth initiatives like process improvement, customer acquisition, and innovation.

Two-thirds (67%) of small business users agree that AI takes pressure off themselves and their staff, with nearly half (46%) saying it will make them less reliant on employees [1]. While only 14% of respondents believe AI could replace an employee, nearly half (42%) are open to the idea under the right conditions.

The survey also found that 41% of small businesses believe AI will help them navigate economic uncertainty, with another 40% saying it might [1]. Optimism is highest among white-collar and service-based businesses, where over 70% see AI as a strategic advantage.

References:
[1] https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250717239434/en/AI-Adoption-Among-Small-Businesses-Surges-41-in-2025-According-to-New-Survey-from-Thryv