AI use outside of content creation still ranks low among small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) despite interest, showing a gap between curiosity and capability. While two-thirds of SMBs use AI for marketing and content creation, only 35% are applying it to customer service, per Revenued’s AI Usage Among Small Businesses report. If SMBs want AI to move beyond content creation, they’ll need to invest not just in tools but in training, governance, and measurable pilots. To close the gap between interest and implementation, brands should use upskilling as a differentiator, start with low-risk pilots, and build trust in outputs.

Threads turns one week old today, and the platform already has 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing platform ever. Instagram’s new venture looks just like Twitter but feels kind of like Facebook, and its first few days have been a wild west for marketers. Here’s what marketers should consider in their Threads strategy.