Not all parts of small business AI are created equal. Some come packaged to work out of the box, while others require significant training before they work as intended. Some are geared towards handling every possible business operation, while others are launched with a focus on just one or two critical tasks. Not to mention the fact that AI products are always changing.
Small business owners may think they have a handle on the technology, but even seasoned AI users can reap new benefits considering the rapid pace of AI development. And new users need to know what to look for when evaluating AI deployments. Otherwise, you risk wasting time and resources managing false expectations.
Here are some important questions small business owners should ask about AI. The answers can help you choose new AI or maximize the use of AI you’ve already implemented.
How do I train for an LLM?
2025 is the year when the possibility of AI performing copyright infringement without the user’s knowledge is exposed. For example last summer, meta and anthropology The company was taken to court by a book author who claimed it used published copyrighted material without permission or compensation to train large language models (LLMs), large repositories of data referenced by AI. These companies won their respective lawsuits and suffered damages due to “fair use” protections. This is evidence that traditionally protected intellectual property has become available for data mining and that LLMs are voraciously consuming it. In many of these cases, the winners were large technology companies that hired lawyers to defend them.
Small businesses cannot be parties to similar intellectual property disputes. Not only is this expensive, but customers realize what these mistakes can mean for their data and are quick to switch providers if necessary.
LLM problems usually begin with the training process. Some AI vendors allow LLMs to roam freely across the Internet, collecting whatever data gets lost and paving the way for potential intellectual property disputes. Others provide LLM synthetic data, de-identified customer data, and other information that exists within guardrails.
Small businesses interested in AI should find a vendor that is willing to engage with the latter and provide maximum transparency as training methods evolve or other issues arise.
How does the software maintain privacy and security?
One data breach can end the life of a small business, and as the technology used by malicious actors continues to evolve, the likelihood of this happening will only increase. At the same time, keeping data private can be quite costly and time consuming.
That doesn’t mean privacy and security should be something small businesses have to consider every minute of every day. For this purpose, it is best for small businesses to leave it to the experts. The right technology vendor will handle these efforts and keep your small business out of trouble.
To determine which vendor is the best fit, small businesses should inquire about their technology stack. Many people say they use Amazon Web Services (AWS) or other third-party services. It might sound good at first. After all, these companies must be the best choice because they specialize in operating technology stacks, right? The problem with AWS, especially generalizable to similar vendors, is that when so many companies rely on a single entity, if something goes wrong, they all experience it. Look no further than that. Recent AWS outages For proof.
Vendors that emphasize privacy and security are more likely to run software on their own technology stack. This allows you to maintain 360-degree visibility into your systems and immediately deploy fixes whenever suspicious activity occurs. They can also make processes more efficient and pass the savings on to customers, or increase the company’s R&D budget to produce better technology. The right supplier for your small business is one that takes matters into its own hands.
How do AI agents work?
Implementing generative AI is much more complex than turning on a faucet. Good AI requires small and medium-sized businesses to be mindful of how the technology will integrate into existing operations and workflows. After all, the worst-case scenario is buying a fancy new AI product that might be too complex to be practical.
The most effective AI agents (the specific processes and tasks that AI performs) are those that operate in the background. Users often don’t even know AI is involved because the technology simply works and can even help with adoption efforts. If a small business is looking to integrate AI, they should ask their technology vendor how much setup is required before AI can operate at full performance and how much of it will integrate with the software the company currently runs.
To vastly simplify this effort, small businesses can search for vendors that have AI already built into their software. This eliminates the need for cumbersome third-party integration efforts, ensures that data is kept within closed systems, lowering the likelihood of leaks, and incorporates robust protection efforts. Additionally, AI integrated into the software fabric is easier to keep up to date because software updates can be easily performed. The less work required for a small business, the more confidence the business has in its technology vendor, the better.
as a result
Lack of data preparation, difficulty integrating with legacy systems, and unnecessarily high costs passed on to consumers have hindered AI adoption among small and medium-sized businesses. When vendors build software on a single technology stack developed internally, integrating agents into everyday business operations and subverting the use of third-party tools, customers can get the most out of AI while keeping their fears in check.
Small businesses can’t completely predict the future, but by asking the right questions of potential AI vendors, they can at least be confident that the future is good.
Image via Envanto
