Forget the AI hype: Where UK small businesses should really start

Artificial Intelligence is dominating business conversations, but are UK SMEs focusing on the wrong question? At Elite Business Live 2026, industry leaders from Sage, Hermes Digital and British Veterans Owned shared practical advice on how small businesses can successfully adopt AI without getting caught up in the hype.   Rather than chasing the latest AI tools, the panel explains why businesses should first identify their biggest operational challenges, automate repetitive processes, and only introduce AI where it genuinely adds value. The discussion also explores agentic AI, trust, productivity, hiring, and why human judgement will remain essential as AI continues to evolve.   In this video you’ll discover: • Why AI adoption should start with solving business problems, not following trends • How automation and AI work together to improve productivity • Why businesses using AI are often hiring more people, not fewer • The importance of keeping humans involved in key decisions • How AI can give business owners back their most valuable resource: time   Whether you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur or business leader looking to understand the real opportunities AI presents, this session offers practical, actionable insights you can apply today. 👍 If you enjoyed this video, please like, subscribe and turn on notifications for more insights from Elite Business Live. #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #SmallBusiness #SME #BusinessGrowth #BusinessAutomation #Entrepreneur #Sage #EliteBusinessLive #DigitalTransformation #BusinessTechnology #Productivity #UKBusiness #Innovation #leadership  https://bit.ly/m/elitebusiness