A new U.S. Chamber of Commerce report highlights how small businesses are turning to AI and other digital tools to stay competitive. We spoke with Jordan Crenshaw, senior vice president at the U.S. Chamber’s Technology Engagement Center, about how Main Street is embracing innovation.

Las Vegas

The release of Open AI's ChatGPT has accelerated the development of artificial intelligence and warnings about its impact on society.

Rise of AI

A recent report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reveals that small businesses across the United States are increasingly adopting advanced technologies, particularly generative AI and cryptocurrencies. According to the report, 60 percent of small businesses are now using generative AI tools such as Google Gemini and ChatGPT, while 35 percent of Nevada's small businesses have adopted some form of cryptocurrency.

The report also indicates that 82 percent of small businesses using generative AI have experienced increased hiring. However, 65 percent of small businesses express concern over a potential patchwork of state-level AI regulations, emphasizing the need for a unified national framework. The U.S. Chamber encourages small business owners to experiment with AI using available online resources and local programs, and provides further information through its website.

U.S. Chamber report: Small businesses rapidly adopting AI

A new report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reveals a quiet transformation happening on Main Street. Small businesses are rapidly embracing advanced technologies, especially generative AI and crypto to transform how they operate and grow. And joining us this morning to discuss is Senior Vice President at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Technology Engagement Center, Jordan Crenshaw. Good morning, Jordan. How are you? Thanks for having me. And how are small businesses using emerging technologies like AI and crypto? What we found is that small businesses that are embracing AI and other emerging technologies are thriving. Our latest Empowering Small Business report at the U.S. Chamber found that 60 percent of small businesses across the country are using generative AI, which is a record. And that's technologies like Google Gemini and Chat GPT. But this year we also looked at cryptocurrencies. And what we found is that about 35 percent of small businesses in Nevada are using some kind of crypto. In what ways are the new digital tools helping small businesses grow and compete? Well, one of the big things that's great about small businesses using AI is that they have the fewer resources than larger companies have, whether that's financial resources or time resources. And AI is really a force equalizer for them. And we're seeing some really innovative ways that small businesses are using AI, whether it's streamlining their marketing or sourcing products that are coming from places that are not hit as hard by tariffs or inflation or even designing products themselves. And what we're finding is that AI is really working for small businesses. Eighty two percent of small businesses nationwide that are using generative AI have reported increased hiring. What risks do new regulations pose for small businesses adopting AI? Well, one of the reasons that small businesses get harder by regulations is they don't have the resources to deal with things like compliance and legal costs from teams of attorneys to fight things like frivolous litigation. And larger companies generally can absorb those costs. So effectively, when you have complex regulations, it's a tax on small business. And this year we found that 65 percent of small businesses nationwide, which is a record number, are concerned about a patchwork of 50 different state laws on AI. And that's why it's so critical that Congress passes a national framework that prevents states from creating a confusing patchwork that would be a regulatory nightmare for small businesses. So it's why we need predictability and certainty for small businesses when it comes to the rules of the road. What practical steps can small businesses take to start integrating these tools right now? My best advice is experiment with it. There are great self-teaching tools available on places like YouTube. But if you want to dive deeper, the U.S. Chamber has resources along with our partner, Co, which is the Chamber's small business hub. But also, there are great local chambers of commerce and community college programs available right now that are helping small business owners learn how to prompt and use AI to do things like coding. Where can our viewers go for more information? For more information, you can visit uschamber.com, where you can learn more about our report and also learn about more of the use cases of AI from our partner, Co. For more information on how to integrate merging technologies like AI and crypto, just visit theuschamber.com.

A jury has convicted Ryan Routh of attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump on his Florida golf course last year. He was found guilty of all five charges, which included attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer.

West Palm Beach

Ryan Routh found guilty of trying to assassinate Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday (September 23) spoke with reporters while meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

New York

Trump takes questions during meeting with Zelenskyy

Chipmaker Nvidia said it would invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, as part of a strategic partnership. CBS MoneyWatch correspondent Kelly O'Grady has more details.

Santa Clara

Nvidia to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI

For the first time in more than half a century, astronauts will soon be heading back to the moon. CBC's Nicole Mortillaro breaks down the preparations for the mission, Artemis II, which will send astronauts on a historic loop around the moon.

Houston

NASA prepares to send astronauts around the moon

U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, where he pushed back on countries that have formally recognized a Palestinian state. Trump also touted U.S. immigration policy.

Trump delivers address at U.N. General Assembly

Southern China and Hong Kong are bracing for Super Typhoon Ragasa as authorities evacuate hundreds of thousands of people. CBS News' Anna Coren has more details.

Hong Kong Island

Super Typhoon Ragasa targets Southern China, Hong Kong

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to voluntarily maintain the limits on deployed strategic nuclear weapons set in the 2010 New START accord after it expires in February if the U.S. agreed to do the same.

Moscow

Putin offers Trump one-year extension to nuclear weapons treaty

President Trump announced Monday the FDA believes pregnant women should not take acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, claiming there could be a link between the medication and autism, despite objections from medical experts.

Washington

Trump, FDA tell pregnant women not to take Tylenol

ABC announced Monday that "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" will return to the air Tuesday night (September 23). The network pulled the show last week following a remark from Kimmel about the death of Charlie Kirk.

Los Angeles

Jimmy Kimmel returning to air

As leaders from around the globe come together at the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine continue to rage.

World leaders come together at UNGA as global tensions rise

Monday marks the second day of strike action after a similar walk-off was called on Sunday by the southern European country's largest trade union, the Italian Confederation of Labour (CGIL).

Rome

Middle East Conflict

Thousands strike across Italy in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza

The Trump administration is adding $100,000 to the existing fee for H-1B visa applications, taking aim at a program that is used to attract highly skilled workers to the U.S.

Trump administration to add $100,000 fee for H-1B visas

President Donald Trump urged Attorney General Pam Bondi in a social media post to move forward with cases against several people connected to the U.S. government. CBS News justice correspondent Scott MacFarlane has more.

Trump urges Pam Bondi to go after his political foes

Russia is denying that its planes entered Estonian airspace on Saturday, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, but Estonia's foreign minister is saying the government has "irrefutable evidence" of the incursion.

Ukraine Invasion

Russia denies violating Estonian airspace

U.S. President Donald Trump was the final speaker at a politically charged memorial service for conservative activist and MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk that also included words of forgiveness from Kirk’s widow as well as remarks from the vice-president and one of Trump’s sons.

Glendale

Trump closes out Charlie Kirk memorial

Media mogul Lachlan Murdoch and business leaders Larry Ellison and Michael Dell would be involved as U.S. investors in a proposed deal to keep TikTok operating in the United States, according to President Donald Trump speaking to Fox News channel.

Trump says Murdochs would be involved in TikTok deal

Portugal, the UK, Australia and Canada joined over 150 countries that now recognise a Palestinian state. The announcements come ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in the week ahead.

Lisbon

Portugal formally recognises Palestinian state

Police say a 23-year-old was arrested and charged Sunday night with second-degree murder after one person was killed and several others were injured in a shooting at a New Hampshire country club. Witnesses say the shooter said “free Palestine” and before opening fire.

Nashua

Suspect yelled 'free Palestine' before country club shooting

President Trump is demanding that the Justice Department go after his political rivals following a shakeup in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Eastern Virginia. Willie James Inman reports.

Trump pressuring Justice Department to pursue his political foes

President Trump, Vice President JD Vance and several others remembered Charlie Kirk at a memorial service in Arizona that was attended by thousands.

Phoenix

Trump, others remember Charlie Kirk at memorial service

The United Kingdom, Canada and Australia officially recognized Palestine as a state Sunday, a move that has long been opposed by the U.S. and Israel. More countries are expected to do the same this week as world leaders gather in New York for the U.N. General Assembly.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Israel continuing assault on Gaza after countries recognize Palestinian statehood

A group of US Republicans has sent a letter to France, Canada, the UK and Australia, urging them to re-consider their decision to recognise a Palestinian state.  It's warning there may be consequences if the countries move ahead with plan at the upcoming UN General Assembly.

US Republicans warn allies over decision to recognise Palestinian state

Britain, Canada and Australia all recognized a Palestinian state on Sunday (September 21) in a move borne out of frustration over the Gaza war and intended to promote a two-state solution, but which is also bound to anger Israel and its main ally, the U.S.

Britain, Canada and Australia all recognize Palestinian state

The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, will address the UN on Monday, after the General Assembly voted to allow him to join remotely. The U.S. has refused to issue him a visa to attend in person.

UN approves video address by Palestine’s Abbas after U.S. visa refusal

Sixty nations have agreed to a new treaty aimed at protecting marine biodiversity in international waters. But the strength of the deal governing the high seas is uncertain as some of the world’s biggest players - including China, the U.S., Russia and Japan - have yet to ratify.

Nations ratify world's first treaty to protect international waters

A cyberattack on a provider of check-in and boarding systems has disrupted operations at several major European airports including London's Heathrow, the continent's busiest, causing flight delays and cancellations on Saturday (September 20).

London

Travelers stranded as cyberattack disrupts major European airports

The high seas will soon have their own Conference of the Parties (COP). This new body will oversee the implementation of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, which is scheduled to enter into force in early 2026 after the legally required 120-day period.

Manhattan

Optus, Australia's second-largest telecom carrier, promised on Saturday "full cooperation" with official investigators, after an outage disrupted emergency call services for 13 hours. Four people died amid the technical failure, including an eight-week-old boy.

Melbourne

Telco vows to cooperate after deadly outage

Dozens more Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military offensive. Amid mounting international criticism of Israel, there has been a renewed push for a two-state solution, with Portugal being the latest advocate.

Two-state solution gains support as IDF moves on Gaza City

Charlie Kirk will be mourned in a massive public memorial in Phoenix, Ariz., on Sunday. With U.S. President Donald Trump and other top U.S. officials attending, the event is expected to bring significant security concerns.

U.S. Chamber report: Small businesses rapidly adopting AI

Breakdown

See The Full Story

Rise of AI