The Small Business Guide to Responsible AI Use: Part IV

What to Expect from AI Adoption, and When to Bring in Help

In Part I of this four-part blog series, we defined responsible AI use. In Part II, we covered where AI pays off and what to watch out for. In Part III, we covered implementation. In our final blog, we how the adoption process can play out and where you might need help.

You've done the groundwork and chosen your tools. What comes next tends to surprise people, because AI adoption rarely feels the way they expect going in.

This final part covers the stages most companies go through after rollout, along with the signs that it's time to bring in outside help.

Key takeaways

• AI adoption moves through four stages: early optimism, realistic caution, steady progress, and normal operations.
• Reaching the hard second stage is a sign of progress, not a sign you chose the wrong tool.
• Knowing a tool's limits is most of what you need to use it well.
• Consider outside help when sensitive data is involved, a pilot becomes a company-wide rollout, or enthusiasm outpaces what you've learned.
• In MIT's study, companies that bought AI tools or worked with outside partners succeeded about 67% of the time, roughly double the rate of those that built in-house.

What to expect as you implement AI

Adopting AI can feel like riding a rollercoaster. You're going to experience highs and lows. Here's how the process can feel as you work through it, stage by stage.

Companies of every size go through these stages. When you hit that second one, it might feel like an obstacle you're unable to overcome. But it's helpful to keep the challenges in perspective, because reaching that second stage is a sign of progress rather than a sign that you chose the wrong tool.

Knowing the limitations is most of what you need to use the technology well. Once you understand what an AI solution can't do for you, you move closer to better understanding how it can help.

When should a small business bring in outside help with AI?

So when should you consider bringing in a partner to help you on your AI journey? There are a few key indicators you'll want to look out for.

The signs it's time you might need help guiding your AI usage:

• Sensitive data is now involved and you want help protecting it
• You're moving from a small pilot to a company-wide rollout
• You need to determine how much to invest and lack the information to do it
• A project stalled and you can't tell whether the tool or the process is the problem
• Enthusiasm is outpacing what you've learned so far

That last point is critical. High expectations – ones that aren't based in reality, but in unfounded optimism – can be a real roadblock. When a team expects results in weeks rather than quarters, spending can move ahead of understanding. A project that would have worked runs out of budget or patience first.

What a good partner provides

When you're looking for a partner to go with you, look for a partner that helps you:

• Set realistic expectations. You'll want a clear picture of what AI can do for a company your size and what it can't. This alone prevents most of the purchases companies regret.
• Execute successfully. The right partner enables you to manage usage and cost, set up safe practices, draft your policy, and sequence the rollout so your team learns one thing at a time.

MIT's Project NANDA, cited earlier in this blog series, studied this directly. Companies that purchased tools from specialized vendors or worked with outside partners reached successful deployment about 67% of the time. Companies that built in-house succeeded about 33% of the time, half as often.

You'll go through the learning process either way. A partner shortens it and reduces what it costs you along the way.

How do you start using AI without getting burned?

It bears repeating: start with the problem you want to solve rather than the tool you've heard about. It can't be emphasized enough that you shouldn't be looking for a reason to use AI, but rather looking for the AI use case or solution that best aligns with what your business needs.

Real value from AI is well within reach for a company without a security team or a large budget. It takes intention more than resources. The companies that succeed with AI are usually the ones that moved deliberately and adjusted as they learned.

If you'd like a clearer picture of where your company stands, an Ntiva AI Assessment identifies where AI can create value in your operations and where to proceed carefully. We'll build you an AI maturity roadmap based on your business goals.

Schedule your AI Assessment