Like many of my fellow small business owners, I’ve learned how to use digital tools to help me run my business. These tools have allowed me to better reach my customers and save time in my day-to-day operations, allowing me to focus on other important aspects of my business that promote its growth.

That’s why I’m grateful that the U.S. stands out as a leader in developing the very technologies that allow small business owners like me to innovate and grow. I know many small business owners have been able to use new AI technology to increase efficiency and expand operations. Policymakers in Utah and Washington, D.C., must understand the potential these AI tools hold for small businesses — the backbone of our country’s economy.

I’m grateful to live and work in Utah, which was recently named among the top 10 states in the country for starting a small business. Small businesses may just be that — small — but our impact is big, and we deserve to see our businesses and country utilize emerging tech that puts us in a better position to run our companies. The U.S. is at the forefront of technological innovation. Let’s ensure we don’t find ourselves behind the rest of the world by overly restricting AI.

AJ Arrington, St. George