From cafes to real estate agents, small and medium-sized businesses that use AI are growing faster than competitors who eschew the technology, while employers are increasingly seeking people who can use artificial intelligence.
Three new studies released on Monday show that AI is rapidly impacting 2.7 million companies. Many employees are ready to use the technology, even if they believe their skills cannot be replicated by machines.
The adoption of AI is believed to be a major factor in the significant productivity gains for U.S. companies. Some industry studies suggest that up to 75% of large enterprises use this technology. Usage among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the United States is approximately 50%.
A National Australia Bank survey of small and medium-sized businesses found that 42 per cent are using AI, 44 per cent are not, and 14 per cent plan to start implementing AI technology.
However, we found significant differences between sectors. Almost 70 percent of real estate services businesses, 64 percent of finance and insurance companies, and 61 percent of business services operations use AI.
Only 21% of transit agencies say they use AI, and 58% say they have no plans to implement AI.
NAB Group business and private banking executive Andrew Auerbach said companies that rely heavily on data, such as finance and business services, were early adopters of AI.
But he said sectors such as hospitality were adapting, with almost two in five small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the largest proportion of all sectors, planning to implement technology into their operations.
Over the past year, the percentage of companies planning to invest in AI has steadily increased. Auerbach said this will continue.
“There is no question that we will see a significant increase in the way small and medium-sized businesses invest in and use AI,” he said.
Research from business services firm MYOB shows that companies using AI are realizing real productivity and cost-saving benefits.
It was found that companies using AI products grew 2.8 times faster than those without. Of those using this technology, 54 percent said it saved them time and 34 percent said it increased their productivity.
Despite the potential benefits, MYOB research showed that 46% of SMBs have no intention of deploying AI in the next 12 months.
MYOB CEO Paul Robson said the gulf between companies using AI and those choosing not to use it was widening.
“AI is the most powerful productivity tool the small business economy has seen in years, and it is already delivering tangible benefits in efficiency, growth and revenue,” he said.
“Early adopters are moving forward, and even gradual adoption can generate billions of dollars in additional revenue for the economy.”
While companies are increasingly interested in AI, workers remain wary of what it means for them.
Figures compiled by online recruitment firm Indeed show that more companies are looking for future talent with at least some understanding of AI. This year, 8.5% of Indeed employers mentioned AI in their job postings, compared to 5.8% in early 2025.
Unsurprisingly, job advertisements in the data and IT fields are most likely to seek applicants who understand AI. However, Indeed also found that a significant percentage of jobs are in fields that require AI skills, including marketing (17.1 percent), sales (13.2 percent), and arts and entertainment (11.2 percent).
The rise of AI has raised concerns around the world that the output of workers will be replaced by technology, leading to mass layoffs of workers. Last month, Australian software company Atlassian said it would cut 10 percent of its 16,000 employees due to AI.
Indeed, Asia-Pacific economist Callum Pickering said that although AI adoption is accelerating, the impact on the job market appears to be limited at this stage.
He said workers have different opinions about AI. Indeed’s research found that 47 percent of workers are “not particularly concerned” about the possibility of losing their jobs to AI, while 56 percent think their overall job opportunities may decrease.
A net 28 percent believe AI will increase productivity, and a net 15 percent expect technology to allow them to focus on more interesting work.
According to Pickering, most workers believe they can withstand the advent of AI.
“The overwhelming majority of respondents said they believe AI cannot do the job,” he said.
Shane Wright is senior economics correspondent for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or Email.
