Small businesses must overcome the stigma associated with using artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT and Grammarly if they want to unlock greater productivity and growth, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Five Islands Campus of the University of the West Indies, Professor Justin Robinson has declared.
Speaking at the Regional Colloquium during Small Business Week 2024, Robinson encouraged owners to embrace AI without feeling they are “cheating” the system or losing control of their work processes.
“I observe there seems to be a lot of AI guilt. There is a stigma associated with some of these tools that if you use ChatGPT, then somehow you are cheating, you are not doing your own work. I think we need to overcome some of that,” the finance professor shared, pointing out that AI tools can provide small businesses with a much-needed efficiency boost.
The UWI academic noted that tools such as Grammarly can assist when crafting emails and other communication material to enhance grammar accuracy.
“I don’t think there should be any guilt around those things,” Robinson said, highlighting the importance of maintaining quality communication in business.
His call to action comes as small businesses face increasing pressure to stay competitive in a fast-paced, technology-driven world.
The professor further noted that digitisation and AI could serve as “game changers” at both the individual firm level and the broader policy level, giving small businesses access to powerful productivity tools that are now readily available.
“The democratisation of productivity tools through AI means small businesses can now overcome challenges related to size and scale,” Robinson said.
He pointed to the fact that, with these technologies, small firms can boost their operations without the overhead costs typically associated with larger businesses.
In addition to AI adoption, Robinson advised policymakers to digitise compliance processes that continue to burden small businesses.
“The cost of compliance tends to be relatively high for small businesses compared to large businesses,” the university professor said.
Simplifying business registration, tax compliance, and fee payments through digitisation, according to Robinson, could help level the playing field and free up time for small business owners to focus on growth.
“SMEs can benefit greatly from these advancements if we embrace them fully,” he said, stressing the need for both policy-level support and individual action in utilising the tools.
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