From cafes to real estate, AI is boosting businesses – and leaving others behind

Small and medium-sized businesses, from coffee shops to real estate agents, that use AI are growing faster than their technology-shy competitors, while employers are increasingly looking for employees capable of using artificial intelligence.

Three separate new research findings released Monday show how AI is rapidly impacting 2.7 million businesses. Many are willing to use the technology even though their employees believe their skills cannot be replicated by machines.

The introduction of AI is considered the main cause of the large increase in productivity among US companies. Some industry surveys suggest that up to 75 percent of large companies are using the technology. Use in US small and…