Survey: businesses save time with AI but struggle to turn it into revenue

A recent survey of business owners posed one key question: what is the biggest challenge you face right now in getting AI to save your business time and increase profits?

The answers were revealing. Most respondents said they are saving plenty of time with AI tools, but that the saved time is not translating into measurable bottom-line results. A large share also said they worry about producing generic AI slop and losing their own voice in the process.

In response, a free live training on practical AI use for small businesses was organized for Thursday, August 6, 2026 at 10am PT, 1pm ET and 5pm UTC, led together with a veteran marketing educator and an AI educator.

The training promised a framework for turning saved time into income, a curated set of tools, and techniques for adopting AI without sounding homogenized. A second free session on the human side of marketing was announced for August 13. Registrants for both events were told they would receive recordings, transcripts and notes.