70% of US Business Owners Say They Need More AI Training
Tech.co, Monday, July 13th, 2026
A Thryv study finds most US small business owners use AI daily but say they lack adequate training to use it well.
A Thryv study of 561 small and medium-sized business owners found that a large majority lack the skills to use AI effectively despite rapid adoption.
While 66% of US small businesses now use AI, up from 55% the prior year, owners are growing comfortable with the technology faster than they are mastering it.
Some 60% of respondents use AI daily, yet the report urges leaders to prioritize formal training to prevent security errors and maximize business impact. Owners currently rely on informal sources including ChatGPT at 31%, YouTube and social media at 57%, and general online resources at 49%.
The core takeaway is that comfort with AI does not equal effective deployment.