Small Businesses Budget for AI's 'Bad Habits' After Initial Cost Savings

Small businesses hired AI to save money. Now they're budgeting for its bad habits.

Maskot/Getty Images/Maskot AI adoption among small businesses is rising, driven by cost-saving and efficiency benefits. One small business used AI to weather tariff impacts, but also ran up an accidental big bill. Another firm uses AI for different assistant functions, which sometimes results in silly encounters. Sparkles Homes, which makes a bevy of bedazzled products for discount stores like HomeGoods, was under pressure when tariffs hit their supply chain. AI ended up being a lifesaver f...