Artificial intelligence is currently changing how entrepreneurs run their businesses and how they perceive risks and future growth opportunities. Recent research suggests that exposure to digital tools helps business owners develop sharper strategic thinking and greater overall mental flexibility. Consequently, entrepreneurs who actively use AI appear better equipped to rethink their plans when facing sudden economic shocks. Rather than just automating tasks,
AI serves as a powerful cognitive tool that reshapes how leaders approach complex problems. This shift allows them to move away from reactive habits and embrace more deliberate and forward-looking business strategies.
Insights from the Global Research Experts
Dr Jamiu Odugbesan explains that AI is not replacing human thought but is fundamentally changing how people process information. Entrepreneurs who collaborate closely with AI start to plan differently by weighing more options and revising their initial assumptions. This expansive approach allows them to adapt quickly when market circumstances shift unexpectedly in their local or global environments.
Dr Odugbesan’s team includes experts from Nigeria who highlight that technology alone does not deliver these specific cognitive benefits. The strongest positive effects appear when entrepreneurs integrate AI directly into their strategic reasoning rather than using background tools.
Real-World Testing in Lagos’ Computer Village
The research team studied a cluster of three hundred and seventy-six entrepreneurs working within Lagos’ famous Computer Village marketplace. As one of West Africa’s largest tech hubs, this location provides a powerful real-world setting for observing modern entrepreneurial behaviour.
Business owners there operate under intense daily pressure with very limited protection against sudden economic or environmental disruptions. However, those with higher levels of AI knowledge consistently showed much greater flexibility in handling these unexpected market changes. These findings suggest that digital exposure provides a significant cognitive advantage for traders and developers in emerging technology markets.
Implications for Future Professional Training
These findings have broader implications for how governments, global investors, and modern educators should approach AI adoption and training. Traditional programs often focus solely on technical skills or productivity gains rather than the more important benefit of decision-making. Future training should emphasize cognitive adaptability to help entrepreneurs rethink their strategies in the face of sudden disruptions.
Dr Odugbesan emphasizes that success in uncertain environments often depends on the ability to revise plans quickly and efficiently. Ultimately, AI’s impact is cognitive, giving people the confidence to take swifter and more informed actions for their businesses.
Q&A: AI and the Future of Business Thinking
Q: Does artificial intelligence replace the need for human thinking in modern business?
A: No, the study shows that AI expands the scope of decision-making rather than replacing the human strategic element.
Q: Where did the research team find their study participants?
A: The researchers surveyed 376 entrepreneurs at Computer Village in Lagos, Nigeria, which is a major West African tech hub.
Q: What is the most significant benefit of AI for a small business owner?
A: AI helps entrepreneurs transition from reactive decision-making toward more deliberate, forward-looking strategies and provides greater flexibility during shocks.
FAQ
How does AI influence risk assessment for entrepreneurs?
Higher levels of AI exposure allow entrepreneurs to weigh more options and effectively revise their assumptions during risky situations.
What is the significance of the Computer Village setting?
It represents a high-pressure environment where entrepreneurs must constantly adapt to disruption, making it ideal for studying mental flexibility.
Why isn’t simply owning AI software enough to see benefits?
The research highlights that the strongest cognitive benefits only occur when entrepreneurs use AI as part of strategic reasoning.
Who conducted this entrepreneurial mindset study?
Dr Jamiu Odugbesan led the team, which included Dr Andrew Tafameland and Dr Dennis Akrawah from Nigeria and London.
Where can I read the full research paper?
The study is published in the Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Technologies, titled “AI and the Entrepreneurial Mindset.”