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Only one in five small businesses regularly use AI, major new research finds
Tech Hub, in partnership with Google, Sage, Dell Technologies and Square, has found.
The report, UK SME Digital and AI Adoption: The state of play in 2026, is based on a nationally representative survey of 1,320 UK micro and small businesses up to 250 employees, entrepreneurs and decision-makers.
It found that while small businesses have broadly adopted everyday digital tools, real AI use remains at an early stage. Unlike AI outliers like Denmark, where adoption in young enterprises sits at 42 %, according to the IMF, just 21 % of small businesses in the UK use AI regularly, including only 6 % that have embedded it into daily work across the business. By contrast, 57 % of SMEs now describe themselves as highly or moderately digital.
More than half( 53 %) think stronger AI capabilities would help to improve the quality, consistency and speed of products or services, and 45 % that it could make them more resilient to future economic and market changes.
Only one in five of the UK’ s 5.7 million small businesses are using AI regularly, indicating a widening gap as larger businesses race ahead, new research from Enterprise Nation’ s
Yet, when asked about what is holding them back from adopting AI, 53 % of SMEs cite cost, 46 % say lack of skills, 38 % concerns about privacy and data and 37 % lack of time to learn, set up or integrate new tools.
KYND launches industry-first 15 language cyber-risk analytics platform for SME insurance markets worldwide
Leading cyber-risk analytics provider, KYND, has expanded its platform to support 15 languages across EMEA, APAC and the Americas, helping insurers and brokers access fresh, accurate and actionable cyber-risk insights purpose-built for SME insurance.
The launch comes as cyberattacks against businesses continue to rise globally, with SMEs increasingly in the firing line and among those least equipped to respond.
Becoming the first analytics provider to offer cyber-risk insights across such a broad multilingual footprint, KYND helps reduce friction in SME cyber placement while improving underwriting discipline across international markets.
With the addition of Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Thai, Vietnamese and Simplified Chinese, insurance professionals across EMEA, APAC and the Americas can now instantly assess an applicant’ s cyber exposure at the point of quote, share clear and actionable client-facing reports and continuously monitor portfolio risk – all in the language of the markets they serve.
Andy Thomas, KYND’ s CEO and Founder, said:“ As cyber insurance continues to expand across global markets, it’ s important that brokers, underwriters and insureds can work from the same clear understanding of cyber-risk, regardless of geography or language.
“ Many SMEs around the world still remain underinsured or uninsured against the dynamic threat, often because of complexity and limited visibility into their exposure. Making KYND available in 15 languages helps our partners deliver more consistent cyber conversations, underwriting decisions and risk management support, all adapted for the markets they serve.”
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