Survey Sees Widespread SMB Adoption of AI Despite Challenges
Techstrong AI, Monday, May 4th, 2026
AWS survey shows 96% of SMBs use AI but face barriers including cybersecurity, data quality, and unpredictable pricing.
An AWS survey of 4,381 SMB executives reveals that nearly all (96%) have adopted AI to some degree, but significant challenges impede broader adoption, including cybersecurity concerns (53%), data quality issues (47%), integration complexity (47%), and skill gaps (37%).
A major frustration is inflexible pricing models and unexpected costs, with 78% preferring private or hybrid cloud architectures for predictable expenses, and 42% struggling to scale AI due to volatile pricing. Despite these obstacles, SMBs are increasing investments in agentic AI technologies by an average of 16% and prioritizing ROI measurement, suggesting they remain committed to AI adoption even as they navigate operational and financial hurdles in an AI-driven competitive landscape.