If you run a business, chances are you’ve already heard plenty of buzz about artificial intelligence; you may even have started to use it for nifty things like emails, reports and content development. But for many smaller businesses, AI still feels a little out of reach — too complex, too costly, or too far removed from day-to-day operations to really harness its impact.

However, more often than not, most of what holds SMEs back from using AI isn’t technology — it’s myth.

Let’s look at three of the biggest misconceptions that stop SMEs from making progress, and how you can move past them.

Myth 1: “AI is only for big companies (with deep pockets).”

AI is no longer a corporate luxury. Affordable tools like Microsoft CoPilot, ChatGPT Teams, and no-code AI platforms have levelled the playing field. The real differentiator isn’t size — it’s mindset.

Try this: Start with a single process that drains time or repeats weekly (like customer responses or reporting). If it’s rule-based, it’s ripe for automation.

Myth 2: “We don’t have the data for AI.”

You probably have more data than you realise — emails, customer feedback, invoices, website analytics. The key is to make it worthwhile. Even simple data organisation steps (tagging, naming, storing consistently) can turn chaos into clarity and help you unlock AI’s potential later.

Try this: Audit what data you already have. Focus on quality, not quantity.

Myth 3: “It’s too expensive to get started.”

Most AI experimentation costs nothing more than time and curiosity. Many tools have free tiers or trial versions. What’s more costly is inaction — while others automate and learn, you risk standing still.

Try this: Dedicate an hour a week to exploring one AI use case that could save you time or improve customer experience.

Final Thought:

AI isn’t a future luxury — it’s today’s opportunity. The businesses that win are those that learn by doing. Start small, experiment safely, and build your confidence as you go.

Want to go further?

At Talisman AI Consulting, we help SMEs turn curiosity into capability — from AI readiness assessments to practical information and advice and guided workshops on things like automation, use case development, data readiness and much more.

Chamber members get 20% off all Talisman solutions with code CHAMBER20.

Visit www.talisman-ai.co.uk to explore our AI ‘How To’ Guides and discover your next step.