How are New Jersey’s small businesses — especially minority- and women-owned firms — perceiving and adopting artificial intelligence (AI)? A New Jersey State Policy Lab blog post by Liana Lin, Research Project Manager at the Heldrich Center, previews a research study that explores how small businesses use AI today, how they plan to use it in the future, and how public AI initiatives can better support their needs. Building on prior Heldrich Center research in the life sciences and technology sectors, this study centers small businesses as a critical yet underrepresented part of the AI conversation, examining both the opportunities AI creates and the barriers firms face as they work to stay competitive. Subscribe to the Heldrich Center’s listserv at the link below to stay informed about new blog posts and research insights from the study.