AI-Euphoria and the SMB Reality Check.

Large enterprises can afford to experiment. They have dedicated innovation teams, substantial R&D budgets, and the runway to absorb failed experiments. SMBs don't have that luxury.

When a $500M company spends $2M on an AI initiative that doesn't pan out, it's a learning experience. When a $20M company does the same, it's an existential threat.

The AI vendors selling 'transformation' rarely account for this asymmetry. They're optimized for enterprise sales cycles, not SMB realities.

For SMBs, AI adoption should be ruthlessly practical. Start with these questions: What's the most painful, repetitive task in your operation? Where do errors cost you the most money? What decisions do you make that could benefit from better data?

The answers usually aren't sexy. They're invoice processing. Customer support triage. Inventory forecasting. These aren't the moonshot applications that make headlines, but they're where AI delivers measurable ROI.

Forget chatbots that write poetry. Focus on systems that save your team 10 hours a week on data entry.

Here's what nobody tells SMBs: AI governance isn't optional. Data privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA apply regardless of your company size. If your AI system processes customer data incorrectly, you're liable.

Build governance into your AI strategy from day one. Document what data you're using, how it's being processed, and who has access. This isn't bureaucracy—it's risk management.

The SMBs that will thrive with AI are those that treat it as a tool, not a silver bullet. They'll implement incrementally, measure relentlessly, and govern responsibly.