Small firms need AI training, not just access, says Hoang

BoodleBox Founder and Chief Executive Officer France Hoang testified before the U.S. House Committee on Small Business on artificial intelligence adoption by small firms. He focused on policy measures he said would help smaller operators use AI more effectively.

At the hearing on AI and the future of small business, Hoang told lawmakers that access to AI tools is no longer the main issue for many smaller companies. He argued that training, governance and confidence in using the technology are now bigger obstacles.

His remarks drew on BoodleBox's work with more than 120,000 educators, students and professionals across more than 1,300 schools and enterprises. The platform is also among a small number approved by the U.S. House of Representatives' Chief Administrative Officer for use by congressional staff, according to the company.

Hoang used part of his appearance to cast AI adoption as a broader business change rather than a simple software purchase. In an exchange about AI readiness, he said businesses need to reconsider their processes and goals before expecting gains from the technology.

"We tend to think of AI like a faster car. Let's just do whatever we're doing today and just do it faster and better with AI tools. ... I would argue the key to AI adoption ... is to rethink the roads, to ask ourselves where we want to go," Hoang said.

Three requests

Hoang's testimony set out three recommendations for policymakers: more practical training support for small businesses, stronger protection for business data used in AI systems, and a regulatory approach that does not leave smaller companies at a disadvantage against larger rivals.

On the first point, he tied support to public structures already serving entrepreneurs. In particular, he urged lawmakers to back Small Business Development Centres with training and assistance to help owners understand and apply AI in day-to-day operations.

"First, fund the roads, not just the cars," Hoang said.

He then turned to information security and ownership, concerns that have become more pressing for smaller businesses with limited legal and technical resources. His testimony argued that fears over how data might be used can deter owners from adopting AI tools at all.

"Second, protect small-business data, so no owner fears that using AI means giving their work away," Hoang said.

The third recommendation focused on the shape of future AI rules. Hoang warned that compliance burdens designed with large corporations in mind could make it harder for small businesses to compete or even take part in AI adoption.

"Take care that the rules, meant to do good, do not wall out the small. Compliance that only the giants can afford will hand this technology to big companies and lock out those who need it most," Hoang said.

Skills gap

Another theme at the hearing was AI literacy. Hoang described readiness as a mix of subject knowledge, practical understanding of AI tools, and human skills that remain important even as automation spreads further into business operations.

"AI literacy has three components. First, domain expertise... Second, AI enablement... And third, I would argue that in this era of AI, the things that make us uniquely human are more important than ever: critical thinking, collaboration, communication, creativity," Hoang said.

That formulation places AI training in a broader workforce context. Rather than treating adoption as a matter for software vendors or technical specialists alone, Hoang's testimony suggested that smaller firms need support to change workflows, build judgment and train staff to work with AI systems responsibly.

He also pointed to higher education as part of the answer, arguing that colleges and universities could play a larger role in preparing future workers and entrepreneurs before they enter small businesses. He said closer cooperation between government, universities and industry could widen access to training.

"I would like to see greater support for AI literacy at the place where it counts," Hoang said. "I think the most - the formative years of someone's development - just before they enter the workforce."

Business backdrop

The hearing comes as U.S. policymakers weigh how to encourage AI use across the economy while addressing concerns over data use, market concentration and uneven access to expertise. For small businesses, those debates often look different than they do for large companies because owners tend to have less in-house legal support, fewer specialist staff and tighter budgets for experimentation.

Hoang told the committee that his own background shaped his view of the issue. He said his experience included military service and founding several businesses, giving him a direct understanding of the pressures facing entrepreneurs.

"When this Committee talks about small business, I have lived that journey," Hoang said.