AI Isn’t Coming, It’s Already Changing How Small Businesses Win

Short Summary: I’m working on a national AI initiative with four other colleagues at the SBDC to make AI a practical tool for small business owners. What I’m seeing is that businesses applying AI to their needs are gaining leverage fast, while others are stuck trying to figure it out. We’re building tools, frameworks, and potentially SBA-backed AI systems to close that gap. You don’t need to master AI, but you can start using it where it impacts your business.

I spend a lot of my time working directly with business owners in different industries, at different stages, and with different challenges. But lately, almost every conversation includes the same topic: AI.

I hear people are asking:

• “Should I be using this?”
• “Am I behind?”
• “Is this actually going to help me?”
• “How should I add this?”

And the honest answer is this: Yes, AI can help. But most people are approaching it the wrong way.

Where I Sit Right Now

I’m currently part of the national curriculum development team for America’s SBDC “AI U.” We’ve started working with advisors and leaders across the country to figure out one thing:

How do we make AI useable for small business owners and advisors?

Not impressive, not complex, but usable. What I’m seeing on the ground is a gap. On one side, there are incredibly powerful tools. On the other, there are business owners who are busy, skeptical, and already stretched thin. This gap is where most people get stuck.

What I’m Seeing with Business Owners

I’ve had dozens of conversations recently where people say things like:

• “I’ve tried AI, but I don’t really know what to do with it.”
• “I don’t trust putting my business information into it.”
• “I don’t have time to learn another system.”

I understand; most business owners don’t need another tool; they need something that actually makes their life easier. But that’s how they should look at AI: if it doesn’t save time, make money, or reduce friction, it’s not worth it.

What We’re Building Nationally

Inside this initiative, we’re not trying to turn people into tech experts. Instead, we’re focused on something much simpler and much more valuable. We’re building a practical framework that helps people:

• Understand what AI is and where it fits
• Apply it to real parts of their business
• Get quick wins that build confidence
• Use it responsibly, especially around data and privacy

This is being designed to work across SBDC centers nationally, but it’s grounded in what’s actually happening locally. Because theory doesn’t help someone who has payroll due and customers to serve, application does.

An Idea I’m Actively Exploring

“What if the U.S. Small Business Administration developed and owned its own AI GPT or RAG = ‘retrieval-augmented generation technology’?”

Not generic tools, but tools that are purpose-built for advisors and small business owners. Think small, focused language models or RAG-based systems trained specifically on small business needs:

• How to structure a business plan
• How to evaluate financing options
• How to improve cash flow
• How to approach hiring or compliance

These systems would be grounded in trusted SBA and SBDC knowledge, with access tied to being a SBDC client. Advisors would work alongside business owners to guide inputs and help interpret outputs, creating a strong partnership. AI on its own can generate answers, but human advisors bring context, judgment, and accountability. Together, that becomes a powerful system to accelerate outcomes.

How I’m Personally Using AI

AI isn’t just another tool that I help others use and build, I’m using it every day to:

• Draft and refine outreach faster
• Generate content and messaging
• Think through business strategy
• Organize and simplify information
• Check the weather
• Improve my March Madness predictions 😉

AI doesn’t replace my thinking but instead enhances it. It helps me move faster without sacrificing quality, which adds real personal value.

The Shift That’s Happening

What I’m seeing is a clear divide starting to form between business owners who are experimenting and those who are integrating AI into how they operate. The second group is gaining leverage quickly, not because they’re smarter, but because they’re consistent.

Why This Matters Beyond One Business

This isn’t just about individual companies improving. If small businesses start operating with better systems, better data, and better leverage, it impacts hiring, efficiency, and long-term sustainability. That affects communities and local economies, which is why this work matters.

Gratitude and Acknowledgment

I need to recognize the people and organizations making this possible:

• Kim Fedore and other leaders who continue to push innovation forward.
• The support from the U.S. Small Business Administration, our Indiana Small Business Development Center network, Purdue University, and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

These organizations are not just talking about innovation. They’re creating space for it, supporting it, and empowering teams like ours to step into it. I don’t take that lightly.

What I’d Tell You If We Were Sitting Across from Each Other

You don’t need to figure everything out or become an expert. You just need to start.

Pick one area of your business that feels slow, repetitive, or frustrating and start there. Use AI to improve that one thing, then build from it. If you want help thinking through how to apply AI in your business, reach out. I’m always open to connecting.

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