Corporate America may be using AI to cut jobs, but small businesses are using it to keep them

Rather than replacing workers, AI is being used by small businesses to help their employees work better. Photograph: Aitor Diago/Getty Images

I recently met the owner of a company that sells windows and doors. He told me he invested about $10,000 in an AI application that is used by his salespeople in his showroom. The application listens to the conversations between the salesperson and the prospective customer and then automatically creates a quote for the salesperson to review and send.

“It allows my salespeople to talk to more customers and spend less time doing paperwork,” he said. “And it cuts down on errors.”