Revenued has released its 2025 survey on AI usage among small businesses, revealing a dramatic surge in adoption over the past year. Conducted with nearly 300 U.S. business owners, the survey found that while 60% weren’t using AI at the start of 2025, over 90% reported using at least one AI tool by fall.
Marketing and Customer Service Lead AI Adoption
Marketing and content creation emerged as the primary entry point, with 66% of small business owners using AI for writing posts, creating ads, and designing visuals. Customer service is the second most popular use, with one-third of businesses relying on chatbots and automation to respond to inquiries around the clock. Other applications include document drafting, bookkeeping, scheduling, and workflow automation.
“AI is no longer a buzzword for small businesses. It’s an everyday tool reshaping how owners work, compete, and serve their customers,” said Grant Pastor, Sr. Product Marketing Manager at Revenued. “Our research shows small business owners are not only embracing AI but also finding real, measurable benefits in efficiency, cost savings, and growth potential.”
Tools and Impact
The survey also highlighted which AI tools are most widely adopted:
- ChatGPT and other OpenAI models: nearly 70% of respondents
- Google Gemini, Canva’s Magic Studio, Grammarly, QuickBooks AI: widely used for specific tasks
Among users, 60% rated AI’s helpfulness as 4 or 5 out of 5, citing major time savings, improved productivity, and cost reduction.
Challenges and Future Growth
Despite the enthusiasm, small business owners face challenges including lack of training, integration with existing systems, cost, and data privacy concerns. However, nearly half plan to expand their AI use in the next year, indicating continued growth in adoption.
Alongside the report, Revenued launched a podcast episode featuring small business owners discussing AI implementation, successes, and concerns, offering a more nuanced look at how AI is transforming operations on the ground.
Implications
The findings suggest that AI is rapidly moving from early experimentation to mainstream adoption among small businesses, particularly in marketing and customer engagement. As AI tools become more accessible, small businesses are finding ways to streamline workflows, improve decision-making, and compete more effectively against larger enterprises.
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