Square launches free AI assistant for UK businesses
The payments company says the tool turns commerce data into actionable insights through a conversational interface
Square, the payments and commerce platform, has launched Square AI in the UK, a free conversational assistant that draws on businesses' own sales and payments data to help them make faster decisions.
The tool works across Square's existing payments, sales and operations ecosystem and is available to UK sellers from February.
Square said it commissioned research from Censuswide, the polling firm, which found that while 53% of UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have used artificial intelligence, only 30% use it regularly.
The survey of 500 SME owners, conducted between 29 December and 9 January, also found that 51% described themselves as instinct-led compared with just 19% who said they rely on data, though 74% said they feel more confident when instinct is combined with insight.
Square AI offers natural language queries, real-time charts, conversation history and context-aware analysis that incorporates factors such as local weather, events and neighbourhood trends.
The company said UK businesses spend an average of 4.3 hours per week analysing data and 2.3 hours on administration and reporting.
"Businesses generate enormous amounts of data every day through payments and commerce," said Willem Avé, global head of product at Square.
"For a long time, turning that data into real insight has been something reserved for larger organisations with analysts and operations teams."
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Trust remains a barrier to adoption, with 40.6% of SME owners saying they do not trust AI to make recommendations without oversight and 42% saying clearer information about data use would increase their comfort.
Square said the assistant is designed to support decisions without replacing human judgement and is free for all UK sellers.The Recap
- Square launches Square AI in the UK to aid decisions.
- 53% of UK SMEs have used AI, 30% use it regularly.
- Square AI available to UK sellers from February.
