‘Solopreneurs’ bring in $1.7T for the US economy — with many leaning on AI to punch above their weight. Is that risky?

Core Insights - The rise of generative AI is empowering solopreneurs, enabling them to build businesses that were previously only dreams [1][3] Group 1: Solopreneur Landscape - In 2022, there were 29.8 million solopreneurs in the U.S., generating approximately $1.7 trillion, which accounts for 6.8% of the U.S. economy [2] - California has the highest number of solopreneurs at 3,502,950, while Florida leads on a per-capita basis with 13.3 solopreneurs for every 100 people [2] Group 2: AI Adoption Among Small Businesses - A 2025 study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce indicates that 58% of small businesses are utilizing generative AI, an increase from 40% in 2024 and 23% in 2023 [3] - The primary applications of AI in small businesses include customer engagement and inventory management, with 84% of respondents planning to increase their use of technology platforms [3] Group 3: Benefits of AI for Solopreneurs - AI enables small businesses, including solopreneurs, to compete effectively despite limited resources [4] - Solopreneurs like Angela Berardino have leveraged AI to automate tasks such as note-taking, research, and data analysis, allowing them to grow their businesses [5] Group 4: Starting a Business with AI - Individuals can initiate a side hustle quickly, with tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT enabling the creation of a business plan in about 10 minutes [6] - Such AI-generated plans are considered solid enough for presentation to banks or lenders [6]