In the whirlwind of technological advancement, 2023 was dubbed "The Year of Artificial Intelligence (AI)," a moniker that captured the explosive growth and fascination with artificial intelligence. Big tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Meta saw their market valuations skyrocket as they doubled down on AI-driven solutions. Fueled by venture capital, AI-related startups emerged as darlings of the investment world, securing billions in funding. From federal agencies to state legislatures, policymakers scrambled to craft regulations to govern this transformative technology. Yet, amid the frenzy of corporate titans and legislative debates, a quieter but equally significant revolution is unfolding: small businesses, often underestimated as technological laggards, are not only adopting AI but are leading its implementation across the U.S. economy. Small businesses, which account for roughly 99.9% of all U.S. firms and employ nearly half of the nation's workforce, are the ...