Small Businesses in Evanston Turn to AI for Innovation
Across the United States, companies are increasingly integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations to streamline processes and boost productivity. In Evanston, Illinois, small businesses are joining this wave of technological transformation, embracing AI tools to stay competitive and innovative.
Brianna Sylver, founder and president of Sylver Consulting, began exploring AI two years ago out of sheer curiosity. After learning about ChatGPT at a professional conference, her interest in the technology grew, prompting her to consider how it could be utilized within her company.
Her firm, which employs 14 people, now relies on AI platforms like Recollective and Google’s NotebookLM to enhance research capabilities and maintain closer communication with clients during project phases. “We typically have a recruitment phase, a data collection phase, analysis, synthesis, etc. We have integrated AI at each of those areas in distinct ways,” Sylver explained.
AI Adoption Among Illinois Small Businesses
A 2025 report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce revealed that 58% of surveyed small businesses nationwide use AI tools—a number that jumped 18% from the previous year. In Illinois, the adoption rate is even higher, with 67% of small businesses utilizing AI platforms to enhance their operations.
In Evanston, this trend is evident in a variety of sectors. Consulting firms like Sylver’s use AI for market research, marketing agencies leverage it to generate content, and real estate companies apply it to analyze demographic data for targeted outreach.
Marketing Firm Expands Capabilities with AI
Reed Hansen, chief growth officer at MarketSurge, a marketing agency based in Evanston, shared how AI has significantly amplified his team’s capabilities. With just 12 employees, the firm has been able to take on more clients without needing additional staff.
“Over time, AI got better and better,” Hansen said. “You can include more customization, and you can get better quality, more human-sounding content. It really continues to improve every day.”
MarketSurge utilizes over eight AI platforms for both internal and client-facing purposes. Internally, Jasper is used for content creation and automation, while ChatGPT provides supplemental support. For external operations, an AI voice agent trained on the company’s website responds to client inquiries. Hansen also uses platforms like Suno and Descript for audio and video content production.
“A tool that doesn’t have some AI does feel a little incomplete,” Hansen remarked.
Real Estate Sector Cautiously Adopts AI
Allie Payne, a seasoned real estate professional with more than 25 years of experience, recently launched her own firm, the Allie Payne Group. Although interested in incorporating AI, she remains cautious about fully embracing it.
“I’m a little reluctant to use it a lot because I think it keeps you from thinking for yourself,” Payne said. “But at the same time, it also covers all the bases. You may only think of the general direction, but this gives you all the details, and that’s really helpful.”
Payne’s approach reflects a broader sentiment among Evanston business owners who see AI as a tool to assist with certain tasks but not as a replacement for human decision-making and creativity.
Balancing Human Input and AI Assistance
Both Sylver and Hansen emphasize the importance of maintaining a balance between AI assistance and human ingenuity. At Sylver Consulting, AI is primarily used as a brainstorming aid rather than a content generator. “I wouldn’t use it to write a report fully. I wouldn’t use it to write a discussion guide. I wouldn’t use it to find a recruitment screener fully,” Sylver noted. “I use it to help and assist, but in terms of dumping data and saying, write the report for me—no.”
Hansen, on the other hand, uses AI more extensively for content production. One of his preferred tools, HeyGen, allows him to create video avatars that replicate his voice and gestures for promotional content. Despite the impressive capabilities of these platforms, Hansen insists that the human element remains essential.
“A business is always going to need a little bit of human touch. And it’s going to need a face, a voice that is human and real, and stutters and pauses and says ‘ahs’ and ‘ums,’” he said. “I think there are people who do want to connect with a human.”
As AI technology continues to evolve and become more accessible, Evanston’s small businesses are carefully navigating its integration. While some embrace the tools wholeheartedly, others tread with caution, mindful of maintaining authenticity and human insight in their work.
This article is inspired by content from Original Source. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.