AI Use Is Growing Quickly Among Entrepreneurs in the Developing World
Artificial intelligence is having a bigger and bigger impact on how entrepreneurs start and grow businesses in developing economies. As a result, AI tools now help with marketing, logistics, finance, and product development.
A new report from UN Trade and Development shows that startups and small businesses are adopting it more quickly. Because of this, AI is no longer just for big businesses.

Large Language Models Lower Barriers for Small Firms
With large language models, small businesses can quickly and cheaply use AI. So, foundational technologies make it cheaper to try new things and come up with new ideas.
These tools let businesses automate tasks that used to need special skills. So, even with few resources, operational efficiency gets better.
Knowledge Gaps Slow Effective AI Integration
Many business owners still don’t know how AI can help their businesses, even though more and more people are using it. As a result, there is still uncertainty about how to choose problems and how to put them into action over the long term.
These problems are made worse by the fact that managers don’t understand them well and there aren’t many technical experts available. Because of this, adoption is still uneven across sectors and regions.
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Supportive Ecosystems Determine Entrepreneurial AI Success
Experts say that entrepreneurs don’t automatically get the benefits of AI. So, it’s important to have access to financing, skills development, and ecosystem support.
Arlette Verploegh Chabot stressed how important it is to have guidance and integration frameworks. So, ecosystems need to actively support learning and trying new things.
Clear Governance Encourages Responsible AI Investment
Predictable rules and regulations are very important for encouraging AI investment. So, clear rules make things less uncertain for business owners and investors.
Amandeep Singh Gill said that regulation builds trust instead of slowing down new ideas. So, fair and open government helps growth that is responsible.
Affordable Technology and Finance Lower Adoption Barriers
The ability to get cheap AI tools and financing is still a key factor. Because of this, open-source platforms and collaborative projects are becoming more important.
Natasha Crampton pointed out that infrastructure and skills are the building blocks of adoption. So, trusted ecosystems need to combine access with learning.
Skills Development Anchors Long-Term AI Value Creation
Entrepreneurs always say that skills are the most important factor in AI success. As a result, you need both strategic insight and practical ability.
Empretec centers run by UNCTAD offer hands-on training and mentoring. In the end, targeted capacity building lets AI have a lasting effect on entrepreneurship.













