Artificial intelligence helps SMEs bridge skills gaps, but requires ongoing training

Finding professionals with the right skills is a major challenge for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With limited teams and resources, these businesses need to juggle multiple tasks while keeping operations running smoothly. Generative artificial intelligence is emerging as a potential solution to some of these challenges.

A survey by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), published in November 2025, found that 39.1% of SMEs using generative AI and facing skills gaps reported that the technology helped compensate for these deficiencies. The study surveyed over 5,000 companies across seven countries, with data collected in 2024.

The findings suggest that technology can help perform tasks for which a team lacks the necessary expertise. However, this does not mean that AI replaces professional experience or eliminates the need for training.

How AI helps companies with small teams

The OECD survey found that 32.7% of SMEs using generative AI reported a reduction in workload. This can be attributed to the technology’s ability to automate repetitive tasks, organize information, and speed up the creation of texts and documents.

Another benefit is reduced reliance on external services. Around 14.3% of companies said they became less dependent on outsourced providers after adopting the technology. One possible reason is that some tasks previously delegated to suppliers are now being performed in-house with AI support.

However, the impact on employment remains limited. For 83% of the companies surveyed, the use of generative AI did not change the overall need for employees. While 9.1% reported a reduction in this need, 5.5% indicated an increase.

These figures show that productivity gains do not automatically lead to job cuts. Technology can change tasks and routines without immediately affecting team size.

Using AI requires new skills

Adopting the technology does not eliminate the need for qualified professionals. In fact, 19.7% of the SMEs surveyed said that generative AI increased the need for workers with more advanced skills—roughly twice the proportion that reported a reduction.

The skills that have seen the greatest increase in importance are data analysis and interpretation, mentioned by 46.4% of respondents, and creativity and innovation, cited by 41.9%.

In this context, the ability to evaluate responses, identify errors, and apply information to the business context becomes increasingly important. AI can provide an initial analysis, but it is up to humans to verify whether the conclusions make sense and what decisions should be made based on them.

The challenge of turning technology into results

Despite the reported benefits, adoption still faces obstacles. Among SMEs that do not use generative AI, 49.8% cited employees’ lack of skills as a barrier. Legal, regulatory, and copyright concerns also appear among the obstacles identified by the OECD.

For smaller companies, starting with well-defined tasks can make implementation easier. Summarizing documents, preparing drafts, organizing information, and supporting research are examples of uses that can be tested before expanding the application of the technology.

Monitoring results is equally important. Comparing the time required to complete a task, checking the quality of deliverables, and establishing rules for data use helps identify where AI truly contributes.

The OECD results refer to companies in seven countries and should not be interpreted as a specific estimate for Brazil. However, they indicate a path for SMEs interested in expanding their capabilities without relying exclusively on new hires: combining technology, training, and human supervision.

Training options for professionals

Professionals looking to expand their use of AI at work can consider the Pre-MBA in Artificial Intelligence offered by Saint Paul. The course consists of four practical online classes—three recorded and one live—covering around 20 tools, including ChatGPT, Claude, NotebookLM, and Manus.

The training covers autonomous research, document analysis, creation of custom agents, voice cloning, and video production with avatars. The program includes a certificate of completion and 30 days of access to Inner AI Pro, a paid platform with over 50 AI tools. The price is just R$ 37. To learn more about the applications and explore new possibilities for using the technology in professional routines, visit the official website.