Talent crunch, gas prices and AI top concerns at Bank of America small business roundtable

Small business owners at a Bank of America roundtable just confirmed what you already know — AI is on everyone's radar, but almost nobody feels confident about it. You're not behind. You're just bein

Small business owners at a Bank of America roundtable just confirmed what you already know — AI is on everyone's radar, but almost nobody feels confident about it.

You're not behind. You're just being careful. That's smart, not slow.

Here's what stood out from the conversation: the business owners most frustrated with AI aren't the ones who ignored it. They're the ones who bought tools before identifying the problem those tools were supposed to solve. Wrong order. Every time.

The owners gaining traction started with one painful, repetitive task — something costing them 5-10 hours a week — and asked "can AI handle this specific thing?" That single question changes everything. It turns a $200/month subscription into a real decision instead of a gamble.

You don't need a strategy overhaul. You need one problem, one tool, one measurable result. Pick the task your team complains about most. That's your starting point.

This week, write down the three most repetitive tasks in your business. Just write them down. That list is worth more than any AI demo you'll sit through.

What's one task you'd eliminate tomorrow if you could — and have you tried using AI for it yet?

#SmallBusiness #AIStrategy #BusinessGrowth #AIForBusiness

Original Source

Bank of America's small business chief discusses lending trends, workforce challenges and AI adoption at Charlotte roundtable.