Sage's 'Authentic Intelligence' approach to AI is paying off for SMBs, argues CEO Stephen Hare

It’s all about AI, of course, but for Sage CEO Stephen Hare that’s Authentic Intelligence. By which he means that the more tradition artificial variety needs to be built on ethical, transparent and human-first foundations if it is to support Sage’s stated goal of being “the world's most trusted and thriving network for SMBs powered by AI. That matters, he explains:

SMBs make up 99% of all businesses in our end markets. They are the lifeblood of our economy, providing employment and creating wealth for millions. Our small business tracker analyzes data from 140,000 SMBs. And it shows that despite the external backdrop, SMBs have again proved resilient and increasingly profitable during 2025.

But they continue to face barriers such as weak productivity and late payments with the challenge of remaining competitive and compliant. They want effective integrated solutions from a trusted vendor and Sage ...