People don’t step back from AI because they’re fearful of the technology itself. They step back when it doesn’t align with how their business actually works, writes Sage CEO Steve Hare.

A few weeks ago, I spoke with a small business owner who had heard AI could help with her accounts.

She wasn’t sure how. She just knew she was spending hours in her evenings and weekends on invoices and spreadsheets when she’d rather be growing her business.

That conversation stuck with me because it captures exactly where we are with AI in 2026.

The real challenge for AI this year is not whether it’s powerful or even whether it’s impressive. It’s whether people can trust it, understand it, and confidently use it in the moments that actually matter to them. 

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People aren’t asking for more intelligence in the abstract. 

They’re asking for fewer late nights, fewer errors, and more certainty that the numbers they rely on are right. They’re........

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