This article is By Jon Bauer, Chief Technology Officer, Travel Counsellors
Entrepreneurs today are operating in one of the most dynamic business landscapes in decades. AI is reshaping established industries, lowering barriers to entry, and opening entirely new markets. But its influence goes far deeper than operational efficiency. New research from the University of East London shows AI is changing not only how entrepreneurs run their businesses, but how they perceive risk, opportunity and adaptation.
The study found that access to digital tools and AI was linked to more powerful strategic thinking and increased mental flexibility. Entrepreneurs who understand and use AI are more adept at re-working plans, adapting quickly to new information and confidently pursuing opportunities. In short, AI isn’t just changing business models; it’s changing mindsets.
And that shift in mindset is already playing out across the UK workforce. AI tools are making it easier for aspiring entrepreneurs to realise their ambitions and take a bold leap into the unknown. According to Travel Counsellors, over a quarter (26%) of UK workers feel more empowered to start their own business due to AI, while nearly a third (30%) say they would set up a business that uses AI to deliver products or services.
This trend is particularly strong amongst younger people, with more than a third (36%) of 25–34-year-olds and 32% of 16–24-year-olds feeling more empowered to start their own business due to AI. Research by investment network Antler also found that the average age of an entrepreneur who founded an AI unicorn fell from 40 in 2020, to 29 in 2024.
However, AI delivers the greatest value when it supports human thinking, judgement and creativity, not when it attempts to replace them. The real opportunity lies in using AI with intent: to enhance the human touch, not dilute it. For entrepreneurs, the challenge is understanding where AI adds genuine value and how to integrate it meaningfully into their business. Start-ups that embrace AI thoughtfully are more likely to outpace competitors, scale faster and unlock new growth opportunities as the technology continues to evolve.
AI is accelerating an entrepreneurship boom, but its true potential emerges when paired with human judgement, creativity and empathy. At Travel Counsellors, we believe the future isn’t AI instead of people. It’s AI for the people.