Last month’s Small Business Month gave us an opportunity to celebrate the people who make Utah’s economy work. They are store owners who open early, contractors who answer after-hours calls, accountants who manage tax season, wellness entrepreneurs who build relationships with their customers, and family-owned businesses trying to grow without losing what makes them local in the first place. It’s also a good time to recognize that artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming one of the most useful tools for these businesses.
For many Utah small business owners, the challenge isn’t a lack of ideas. There just aren’t enough hours in the day. A small business owner may hold the roles of CEO, scheduler, marketer, bookkeeper, customer service desk, and hiring manager all in the same day. AI can help alleviate some of that pressure.
Small businesses need clear rules, reliable access to the latest tools, a trained workforce, and a national strategy that continues to drive American innovation.
The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council’s 2026 Small Business Tech Use Survey found that 82% of small business employers have invested in AI tools, with the typical company using a median of 5. These tools are used for customer engagement, marketing, content creation, business research, financial management, and administrative automation. The same survey found that 93% of small businesses plan to continue investing in AI.
That should be important for Utah. Our state’s economy is built on entrepreneurship, growth, and problem-solving. Fortunately, Utah is already taking steps to recognize that AI will be part of its future. The state has launched a Pro-Human AI Initiative focused on balancing economic growth and public protection, and Utah higher education leaders are expanding AI workforce eligibility to prepare students for an AI-accelerated economy. Probo-Orem is recognized as a strong mid-sized AI job market, reflecting the growth of the state’s technology ecosystem.
A larger national image is also involved here. The United States is in a global race to see who will build, shape, and lead the next generation of AI. China has long treated AI as a national priority. If the United States falls behind, the impact will not be limited to Silicon Valley or Washington. They reach Main Street in Utah.
Small businesses rely on digital tools every day. If the best AI systems are built under authoritarian rivals, U.S. companies could face significant risks to customer data, intellectual property, and long-term competitiveness.
Before lawmakers embark on broad policies, they analyze the unintended consequences of these policies. For example, how will it impact local employers across the Beehive State? Heavy-handed policies may sound prudent, but they are misguided and come at real costs for small businesses without lawyers, compliance departments, or technology teams.
Small businesses need clear rules, reliable access to the latest tools, a trained workforce, and a national strategy that continues to drive American innovation.
During Small Business Month, we celebrated entrepreneurs who are already leveraging AI to build stronger businesses and communities. We also need federal and state leaders to understand what’s at stake.
Utah’s small businesses aren’t waiting for the future. They are already using AI to shape it. Policymakers should now help build America’s future.
