AI 'biggest opportunity since internet' for small businesses – but fear holds many back

PremiumTom RaynelMultimedia Business Reporter·NZ Herald·17 May, 2026 05:00 PM4 mins to read‌New research from Xero shows data privacy concerns and gaps in time and trust are slowing artificial intelligence adoption by SMEs.Nearly half (45%) of New Zealand’s small-to-medium businesses believe artificial intelligence could be the biggest opportunity since the internet, but data privacy concerns, and gaps in time and trust are slowing deeper adoption, a Xero survey shows.

About 64% of small to medium (SME) business owners said AI had helped