Forbes · 19 Sep, 19:57 · Business briefing

Business Tech News: 86% Of Solopreneurs Try AI Before Hiring

Recent analysis indicates that a significant majority of solopreneurs, specifically 86%, attempt to utilise artificial intelligence tools before considering hiring additional staff.

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Recent analysis indicates that a significant majority of solopreneurs, specifically 86%, attempt to utilise artificial intelligence tools before considering hiring additional staff. This trend highlights a fundamental shift in how small business owners and independent contractors approach workforce scaling. Rather than immediately expanding human capital, these professionals prioritise technological automation to manage operational demands. The data suggests that AI is now viewed as a primary, cost-effective solution for handling tasks traditionally performed by employees, fundamentally altering the initial growth trajectory for solo ventures.

Employer demand for AI Strategy skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

You must adapt your career strategy to this reality. Traditional entry-level roles are shrinking as solo founders automate routine tasks. Your value now lies in skills that AI cannot easily replicate, such as complex strategic thinking, nuanced human interaction, and advanced technical oversight. Focus on mastering AI Strategy to understand how to integrate these tools effectively. Simultaneously, develop strong Project Management capabilities to coordinate AI-driven workflows. If you are seeking employment, target organisations that value human-AI collaboration over pure automation. Upskill immediately in data interpretation and prompt engineering to remain relevant. Do not wait for the market to shift further; proactively position yourself as a professional who leverages technology to enhance, rather than replace, human judgment.

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Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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