INTHEBLACK May 2025 - Magazine - Page 37
While government policy may
help to kickstart SME uptake
of AI, many are asking how
they should integrate it.
SMEs often face additional
barriers, such as integration
with existing technologies
and high implementation costs.
Conducting an audit of the
AI tools already used within
a business, or those available
in current software packages,
is a good place to start.
Small steps to harness
big tech
Smart technology for small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) is on
the policy agenda for governments in the Asia-Pacific, but what do
SMEs need to have in place to be “AI ready” and implement it safely?
Words Susan Muldowney
IT HAS BEEN LESS THAN THREE
years since the generative artificial intelligence
(gen AI) tool ChatGPT burst onto the
scene, casting a bright spotlight on the broad
capabilities of AI systems. Data from CPA
Australia’s Business Technology Report 2024
shows 69 per cent of respondents state that
their organisation used AI that year, up from
55 per cent in 2023.
While much of the conversation around
AI adoption has focused on “the big end
of town”, smart tech for SMEs is now
on the policy agenda for governments across
the Asia-Pacific. In Australia, for example,
intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au 37
