Blacksburg business owner: AI policy must work for small businesses

Local businesses strengthen communities while relying on tools that are changing quickly. Researching property titles once required days of manual work through historical records, but artificial intelligence can gather much of that information in a fraction of the time. Small businesses already use AI in practical daily operations, with about one in four using it. Meetings with federal representatives highlighted that policy discussions have not fully caught up to how small businesses use AI today. In the title and settlement industry, AI improves accuracy and efficiency by speeding up complex historical research and helping clear title issues. AI also supports outreach emails, social media content, marketing, and targeted advertising on platforms like Facebook and Instagram by drafting ad copy, targeting audiences, and optimizing campaigns.

"Not long ago, researching a property title could mean spending days digging through historical records, including Revolutionary War land grants and centuries-old Virginia property documents. Today, much of that information can be gathered in a fraction of the time using artificial intelligence. For small businesses like mine, that is not just a convenience, it is a fundamental shift in how we operate and serve our clients."

"While artificial intelligence is often discussed in terms of future risks or large-scale enterprise use, small businesses are already relying on these tools in practical, everyday ways. In fact, about one in four small businesses is already using AI in their day-to-day operations. Ensuring that policy reflects that reality is critical."

"That reality was front and center during my recent meetings in Washington, D.C., with staff from the offices of Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, along with Representative Morgan Griffith. In those conversations, one point became clear: policy discussions have not fully caught up to how small businesses are using AI today. That disconnect matters."

"AI has become an essential tool in the title and settlement industry, where accuracy and efficiency are critical. It allows me to research complex historical records more quickly, helping clear title issues that once required days of manual work. It also supports everyday business functions such as outreach emails, social media content and marketing. AI-powered advertising tools on social platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow small businesses to draft ad copy, target specific audiences and optimize campaigns in ways that were once only possible with dedicated marketing teams."

Read at Cardinal News