Small Businesses Learn AI
In brief
- A new program is teaching small businesses to use artificial intelligence.
- Shelly Stotzer enrolled her entire team at SkillSpout, an AI training program for small businesses.
- The training is important because many small businesses are using AI.
- In 2025, 58% of small firms used generative AI, up from 40% the year before.
- Now 76% of small businesses are using or exploring AI.
- Small businesses are moving fast to adopt AI, and programs like SkillSpout will help them master the technology.
Read full story at Spectrum News →
More briefs
AI-Generated Art Sparks Debate
A student was arrested for destroying AI-generated artwork at a university gallery. The artwork was made by a fellow student using AI algorithms. The incident raises questions about the value of AI-generated art. 57 images were destroyed. The student who destroyed the art said it should not be shown with human-made art. New research shows people often cannot tell if art or music is made by humans or AI. The line between human and AI creativity will continue to blur.
Tech CEOs Backtrack on AI Job Apocalypse
Two top tech CEOs said they were wrong about AI replacing many white-collar jobs. They used to think AI would cause big job losses. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei changed their minds. Altman said he was "pretty wrong" about AI's impact. Amodei said automation may expand work instead of replacing it. Altman and Amodei's comments show a shift in thinking about AI and jobs. Now they think AI will not replace as many jobs as they thought. The future of work with AI is still uncertain.
Pope's AI Document Raises Questions
Pope Leo XIV's latest encyclical about AI's impact on humanity may have been written with the help of AI. Analyses found that parts of the document contain traits common in AI-generated writing. Certain paragraphs of the document were found to be between 40 percent and 100 percent written by AI. The document's first chapter was flagged as 62 percent AI-generated. The use of AI in the document raises important questions about the role of technology in creating content, and what this means for the future of writing.
Pope Leo XIV Releases Letter on AI
Pope Leo XIV released a letter about AI with 245 paragraphs. The letter covers AI-related monopolies and employment concerns. The letter is important because it talks about the impact of AI on people. Many big names in tech and politics are responding to the letter. They are sharing their thoughts on the pope's stance on AI. The pope's letter will likely start a big conversation about AI and its effects on society.
Wake Schools to Train Teachers on Artificial Intelligence
Wake County Public School System plans to train teachers on generative artificial intelligence later this year. The school system is rolling out a policy on the technology ahead of the fall 2026 launch. The policy aims to teach students about generative AI while keeping them intellectually honest. Most school boards in North Carolina have a basic policy on artificial intelligence, but Wake County is attempting a more detailed policy. The policy outlines commitments to ethics, student access, and student success. The school board has not discussed the topic since October and is now hoping for an approved policy by the start of the next school year. The district will continue to work on the policy to ensure a smooth rollout of artificial intelligence in schools next year.