After years focused on million-dollar contracts with large corporations, artificial intelligence companies have discovered an underserved goldmine: small businesses. This segment, which generates 44% of the US GDP, barely uses AI. Now, giants and startups are competing to simplify their tools to fit tight budgets and teams without a technical department.
Microchips and macro-simplification: the technical challenge of integration 🛠️
The challenge is not just about price, but about infrastructure. Current solutions require adapting language models to low-volume local databases, with lightweight APIs that work on modest hardware. Reduced versions of virtual assistants and management systems are being developed that operate without cloud connectivity, prioritizing the data privacy of the local business and eliminating the need for an IT specialist.
The dream of the chatbot that also washes the dishes 🍽️
Marketing promises paint a picture of an assistant that answers emails, predicts sales, and even guesses the ideal stock. The reality, for the owner of the corner pizzeria, is that the AI has been trying for two weeks to understand why barbecue sauce is not a customer. But hey, if it manages to make the accounting software stop crying every time it sees the taxes, maybe the investment is worth it.