Most SMEs Are Using AI, But Very Few Are Seeing A Return

Blog written by Oscar Hunter, Head of Content, The Business Show London

At a Goldman Sachs summit in Birmingham, there was a clear message: when it comes to AI, adoption is everything. This comes at a time when larger firms continue to outpace smaller businesses, with AI increasingly shaping how companies operate, compete and scale.

This is no longer early-stage adoption. According to programme data, 98% of small businesses involved are already using AI tools in some form. At the same time, nearly 90% of AI-related hiring is still concentrated within just 1% of companies, highlighting a clear imbalance in how deeply AI is being embedded.

That gap points to where the real opportunity sits. While most SMEs are experimenting with AI, very few are integrating it in a way that drives meaningful commercial outcomes.

The Real Shift: From Tools to Strategy

Many businesses are currently using AI for quick wins such as content generation, administrative support and basic automation. However, only 18% are actively tracking return on investment, which is where the real divide begins to show.

AI does not deliver value simply by being present in a business. Its impact comes from how effectively it is tied to revenue growth, cost reduction or operational efficiency. Without that connection, it remains a tool rather than a driver of growth.

Goldman Sachs is not treating this as a passing trend. The bank is investing in the infrastructure around SME AI adoption, from advisory services to long-term support, alongside expanding its presence beyond London into cities such as Birmingham.

The commercial logic is clear. By supporting SMEs early in their AI journey, institutions like Goldman position themselves to build long-term relationships across lending, investment and advisory as those businesses scale. This is less about short-term consulting and more about securing a role in future growth.

The conversation has already moved on from whether AI matters. The real divide now sits between businesses that are testing AI and those that are embedding it into how they operate.

That is where competitive advantage is beginning to form. It is also why more founders and senior teams are looking beyond individual tools and focusing on how AI fits into their wider business model and strategy.

This shift is increasingly visible in the spaces where SME leaders are comparing approaches and outcomes in real terms, including at The Business Show London, where the conversation around AI has quickly evolved from theory into practical application.

AI adoption is already widespread across SMEs, but most businesses are not yet measuring its impact in a meaningful way. Larger firms continue to dominate investment and hiring, which creates a window of opportunity for SMEs that move more decisively. The advantage now sits with those who can move from isolated use to integrated strategy.

AI is no longer a future-facing advantage. It is becoming part of the operational baseline. The businesses that treat it as infrastructure, something embedded into decision-making, operations and growth, will be the ones that see measurable impact. The rest risk remaining in a cycle of experimentation without clear returns.