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Key Takeaways AI agency requires founders to think like owners protecting equity and data can matter as much as adopting the latest technology
Capital follows defensibility as investors are pouring unprecedented money into AI, entrepreneurs still need sustainable business models
Founders need to turn AI into proprietary data, intellectual property to gain a competitive advantage
Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming table stakes for entrepreneurs. The next competitive divide may not be between entrepreneurs who use AI and those who don’t. It could be between founders who simply consume AI and those who figure out how to own the value it creates. That distinction could define the next generation of successful companies.
When more than half of small businesses have access to similar technology, the access itself stops being much of a competitive advantage.
The question every entrepreneur should be asking now is: What does my company own that becomes more valuable because of AI?
Inclusion to infrastructure
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 58% of small businesses reported using generative AI in 2025, up from 40% in 2024 and just 23% in 2023. Even more telling is that among small businesses using AI, 85% reported increased sales, 84% increased profits and 82% increased their workforce from the previous year.
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