As National Small Business Month highlights the role local businesses play in our communities, it is also a reminder of how quickly the tools small business owners like myself rely on are changing. 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. By streamlining content creation, data analysis and document review, AI allows small businesses to accomplish more without adding staff.
That benefit, however, is only real if these tools remain accessible. As I shared with congressional staff, affordability must be a priority. If pricing models shift toward enterprise-level contracts or costs rise sharply, small businesses will be priced out of tools they now depend on to stay competitive.
Transparency is just as critical. When I use AI-powered advertising tools, I need to understand how my data is being used and what assumptions the system is making on my behalf. When I rely on AI to interpret historical documents or draft client communications, I need confidence in the reliability of the output. In an industry where accuracy matters, even a small error can have real consequences. Clear, consistent standards around disclosure, limitations and reliability are essential.
Small businesses do not need to be shielded from AI, but we do need clarity. We need to know when outputs are probabilistic, how systems are trained and where human oversight is necessary. Without that transparency, we are left managing risks we cannot fully see.
None of this changes the nature of what small businesses offer. In title and settlement work, as in many service industries, the relationship between client and provider is built on trust. AI can make that relationship stronger, but it cannot replace it.
What concerns me is not that AI will eliminate jobs, but that its benefits could become unevenly distributed. If access becomes limited by cost or shaped primarily around enterprise needs, small businesses risk being left behind.
What we need from policymakers is not theoretical guidance, but practical guardrails that reflect how AI is already being used. That means protecting affordability, requiring meaningful transparency and ensuring that small-business realities are built into how these rules are written.
Virginia’s small businesses are not waiting for AI to arrive; we are already using it, learning from it and building with it every day. During National Small Business Month, that reality should be front of mind for policymakers. The question now is whether they will keep pace. If they do, AI can remain a powerful equalizer. If they do not, it risks widening the gap between small businesses and the largest players in the market.
Tina Merritt is a Licensed Title and Settlement Agent in Blacksburg.
