A recent survey commissioned by Homebase indicates that artificial intelligence tools are widely adopted by small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across the United States, with a significant majority reporting positive impacts on their daily operations.The survey found that nearly two-thirds (64%) of SMBs are either currently utilizing or piloting AI tools. Among these adopters, 94.1% consider AI valuable to their business operations, and 42.8% describe it as “extremely” valuable. This adoption trend was particularly strong in the Construction, Retail, and Food Service industries, where tasks like scheduling and staffing are daily challenges.For SMBs not yet using AI, there is considerable interest, with 68.5% expressing curiosity about the technology, and 65.3% of all respondents comfortable experimenting with new AI tools. The survey also noted growing familiarity with “Agentic AI,” tools that take actions on behalf of users rather than just providing information, with 70.5% of respondents indicating at least some familiarity. However, barriers to adoption persist, primarily concerns over data privacy (61.2%) and fears of errors (46.9%).John Waldmann, CEO and co-founder of Homebase, commented on the findings, stating, “Small businesses are adopting AI fast because they’re seeing real, day-to-day impact.” He highlighted the rapid uptake of Homebase’s own AI-powered assistants, with over 10,000 small businesses using them within weeks of their launch. These tools, including new Hiring and Scheduling Assistants, are designed to automate time-consuming administrative tasks, enabling small business owners and managers to focus on growth and support their hourly teams.Homebase, a leading all-in-one platform for team management and payroll, aims to make small business teams more efficient. The company’s “everything app” provides solutions for employee scheduling, time clocks, payroll, hiring, communication, and HR. Last year, Homebase tracked over 1 billion hours for more than 2.5 million workers across over 100,000 small businesses. The survey itself canvassed 828 U.S. decision-makers, including owners, directors, and managers of small businesses with fewer than 200 employees, overseeing hourly workforces. The data was collected from May 30 to June 11, 2025.