AI is often seen as a tool reserved for big companies, but it has the potential to bring significant benefits to small businesses as well. Just as literacy became widespread and transformed society, making AI accessible can have a similarly revolutionary impact.
Today, AI is mainly used by large companies due to the high costs and expertise required. These companies apply AI on a large scale for tasks like web searches and product recommendations, making it highly profitable.
Even a small pizza store generates valuable data daily. If AI were accessible, it could help such stores predict which pizzas sell best on specific days, leading to better inventory management and increased profits. Despite generating less data than big companies, small businesses can still extract valuable insights, making AI a powerful tool for them.
The “Long-Tail” Problem of AI
The "long-tail" problem refers to the many unique projects that don't fit into one-size-fits-all AI solutions. For example, demand forecasting for a T-shirt shop or a pizza store requires custom AI solutions. These projects often get overlooked, even though their collective value is immense.
The Future: Democratizing AI
New AI platforms are making AI more accessible by allowing users to provide data without writing complex code. This shift enables small business owners, store managers, and quality inspectors to build AI systems tailored to their specific needs, making AI more practical and widespread.
AI has the potential to create tremendous value for small businesses and individuals. By making AI accessible to all, we can ensure that its benefits reach every corner of society.