A vast majority of Scottish SMEs expect artificial intelligence (AI) to boost productivity, with 88% of businesses surveyed by tech group ClearSky Logic saying productivity gains are their main priority for implementing AI.

The survey of 50 SME leaders across Scotland revealed that 57% of companies have already invested in AI, with approximatelu 90% planning to invest in AI.

IT systems (36%), admin (29%) and sales and marketing (21%) are the main areas being targeted with AI by SMEs in order to achieve these sought-after productivity gains.

Other findings from the survey included that 70% of SMEs don’t believe AI will lead to layoffs, while only 20% of companies had trialled AI before implementing it.

 “Some may be surprised that just over half of Scottish SMEs have invested in AI, but there is also an overwhelming appetite for investing in AI borne out from the survey,” Darren Auld, ClearSky Logic’s CEO, said. 

“We know AI is rapidly becoming the great enabler for businesses who have the ambition to innovate, scale, and outpace their competition, and that it has never been more accessible than it is today.  As we say at ClearSky, the question is no longer ‘if’ AI should be part of your corporate strategy, but ‘how’.” 

Ed Vickers, co-founder of Edinburgh-headquartered marketing firm LOOP Agencies, with a client base that includes Standard Life, Aberdeen, and Royal London, said: “The fear that AI will replace jobs is changing to ‘AI won’t take my job, but someone who knows how to will’.

“In marketing we’re seeing a shift towards it being an integral tool to enable people to do their jobs better. The fear of being replaced has changed to the worry of being left behind.”

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Aakanksha Sadekar, CEO and founder of Aberdeen-headquartered digital health technology startup Tracker.Health, which specialises in elderly care, commented: “AI is being rapidly adopted into digital health solutions worldwide, we have been spending time out in Asia and are now working with commercial partners in Singapore, China, and Japan, so we’re seeing firsthand how Scotland must keep pace with the fast-moving evolution of AI.” 

Auld added: “When we engage with clients and peers, we talk about a four pillar approach that helps to make the AI journey as effective as possible, while de-risking the investment as much as possible.  Essentially, companies need to identify their core challenge, utilise high quality data, test AI via pilot projects, and then continually evolve AI within the business.”