What Are the Best AI Programs for Business in 2026?

The best part about working in tech is watching the “next big thing” go from buzzword to business essential—sometimes in what feels like the blink of an eye. That’s exactly what’s happened with AI over the past few years. In 2017, only about 20% of companies were dabbling in AI. Fast forward to 2026, and nearly 80% are using AI in at least one business function, with almost 90% planning to expand their use even further (). It’s not just hype—AI is now the backbone of business efficiency, smarter decision-making, and, let’s be honest, keeping up with the competition.!

If you’re a business leader, operator, or just someone who’s tired of hearing “AI” thrown around without any real-world context, you’re in the right place. I’ve spent years in SaaS and automation, and I’ve seen firsthand how the right AI program can transform everything from sales and marketing to operations and customer service. In this guide, I’ll break down what makes a great AI program for business, spotlight some of the top tools for 2026 (including why I think is worth your attention), and share practical tips for choosing the best fit for your team.

AI Programs for Business: The New Standard in 2026

AI in business isn’t just a trend—it’s the new standard. Whether you’re running a startup or managing operations at a Fortune 500, AI programs are now woven into the fabric of daily work. Sales and marketing teams use AI for lead scoring and personalized content. Operations managers rely on predictive analytics to forecast demand or spot inefficiencies. Customer service? AI chatbots and virtual agents handle the bulk of routine inquiries—by 2025, about ).

Here’s what this looks like in practice:

• E-commerce: AI chatbots instantly answer “Where’s my order?” freeing up human reps for complex issues.
• Sales: AI tools automatically enrich leads and predict which prospects are most likely to convert.
• Marketing: Generative AI (think Jasper or ChatGPT) cranks out campaign copy and social posts in a fraction of the time.
• Data extraction: Tools like pull market intelligence from websites and PDFs—tasks that used to take hours of manual work.

The bottom line? AI is no longer just supporting business processes—it’s driving them. Companies embracing AI are seeing real gains in productivity, customer satisfaction, and innovation speed, while those dragging their feet are at risk of falling behind ().

Key Features to Look for in the Best AI Programs for Business

Not all AI programs are created equal. As someone who’s helped teams evaluate and implement dozens of these tools, I can tell you: the difference between a “wow, this is amazing” AI program and a “why did we buy this?” one comes down to a handful of critical features.

Here’s what to look for:

Let’s dig a little deeper into each.

Functionality and Versatility

The best AI programs aren’t one-trick ponies. Businesses often get the most value from platforms that can tackle multiple jobs—think automation, analytics, and content creation all in one. For example, Microsoft’s Copilot and Atlassian’s Rovo AI are designed as digital assistants that can draft emails, summarize reports, and automate workflows. The more problems a single tool can solve, the better your investment.

Ease of Use and Accessibility

If your team can’t figure out how to use an AI tool, it’s not going to deliver value—no matter how powerful it is. Look for intuitive interfaces (drag-and-drop, natural language prompts, visual editors) and clear onboarding. Tools like and are praised for their “click and go” simplicity. The best AI programs make you feel like you’ve got a superpower, not a second job as an IT admin.

Scalability and Integration

Your AI needs today might be simple, but what about next year? Make sure your chosen tool can handle more data, more users, and more complex workflows as you grow. Cloud-based solutions generally scale more easily. Integration is just as important—your AI program should connect with your CRM, marketing platforms, databases, and whatever else you use. The smoother the integration, the more value you’ll get.

Cost-Effectiveness

AI software pricing is all over the map: subscriptions, pay-per-use, credit-based models, you name it. The key is to match the pricing model to your usage. If you’re running hundreds of automations a day, a flat-rate plan might make sense. If you just need occasional data extraction, pay-as-you-go could be more cost-effective. Always estimate your ROI—will the tool save or earn you more than it costs? (). And don’t forget to watch for hidden fees.

Support & Training

Even the best AI tools can hit snags. Look for vendors with strong documentation, tutorials, and responsive support. Especially for small businesses, having someone to call (or chat with) when things go sideways is a lifesaver.

Thunderbit: A Standout AI Program for Business Data Extraction

Now, let’s talk about a tool that’s close to my heart—. (Full disclosure: I’m the co-founder and CEO, so yes, I’m a little biased. But I built Thunderbit because I was tired of watching teams waste hours on manual data collection.)

Thunderbit is an AI-powered web scraper Chrome Extension designed for business users. What makes it special?

• AI-driven data extraction: Just click “AI Suggest Fields” and Thunderbit’s AI figures out what data to pull from any website. No coding, no fiddling with selectors.
• Natural language operation: Describe what you want in plain English. Thunderbit handles the rest.
• Subpage and pagination scraping: Need to grab details from subpages or across multiple pages? Thunderbit can do it automatically.
• No-code setup: If you can use a browser, you can use Thunderbit. It’s that simple.
• Instant data export: Send your results straight to Excel, Google Sheets, Notion, or Airtable.

Thunderbit is perfect for:

• Lead generation: Scrape directories, LinkedIn, or event attendee lists for contact info.
• Market intelligence: Monitor competitor pricing, product launches, or customer reviews.
• Workflow automation: Schedule recurring scrapes to keep your data fresh.

And yes, there’s a so you can try it out without pulling out your credit card.

How Thunderbit Simplifies Data Collection

Here’s how Thunderbit works in practice:

1. Open the Chrome Extension on the page you want to scrape.
2. Click “AI Suggest Fields.” Thunderbit’s AI scans the page and suggests relevant columns (like “Product Name,” “Price,” “Email,” etc.).
3. Adjust fields if needed (or add your own custom prompts).
4. Click “Scrape.” Thunderbit extracts the data, handles pagination, and even visits subpages for more details.
5. Export your data to Excel, Google Sheets, Notion, or Airtable.

No code. No templates. No headaches. Just structured data, ready to use.

Thunderbit vs. Traditional Web Scraping Solutions

Let’s compare Thunderbit to the old-school way of scraping data:

Thunderbit is built for non-technical teams who just want the data—without the drama.

Top AI Programs for Business in 2026: A Curated Selection

AI is a big tent, and there are fantastic tools for every business need. Here’s my shortlist of the best AI programs for business in 2026:

• for AI-powered web scraping and data extraction
• for no-code workflow automation
• for AI-generated marketing and content
• for productivity and smart workspace features
• for analytics, compliance, and brand voice management
• for web scraping and monitoring
• for general AI assistance and creative brainstorming

Automation: Zapier

is the king of no-code workflow automation. It connects 7,000+ apps, letting you automate everything from lead capture to invoicing. Zapier’s AI features now suggest automations based on your needs, and you can even build custom chatbots that trigger workflows. It’s the glue that holds modern business software together.

Content Creation: Jasper

is your AI-powered copywriter. It generates marketing copy, blog posts, social media content, and more—based on your brand’s voice and style. With 50+ templates and collaboration features, Jasper is a favorite for marketing teams who want to crank out high-quality content without burning out.

Productivity: Notion AI

turns your team’s workspace into a smart assistant. It can summarize meeting notes, generate drafts, translate content, and answer questions about your internal docs—all inside Notion. It’s like having a librarian, editor, and analyst rolled into one.

Analytics & Compliance: Writer

is built for teams that care about brand voice, consistency, and compliance. It enforces your style guide, manages terminology, and even tracks content quality metrics. Writer is especially popular in regulated industries (finance, healthcare, law) where every word matters.

Web Scraping & Data Collection: Browse AI

is another top choice for web data extraction. It lets you “train” robots to scrape websites and monitor changes over time. Browse AI is known for its robust monitoring and change detection—great for competitive intelligence and price tracking. Compared to Thunderbit, it’s a bit more complex but offers powerful automation for ongoing data needs.

General AI Assistant: ChatGPT

(and ChatGPT Enterprise) is the Swiss Army knife of AI. From drafting emails to analyzing data, it’s the go-to for quick answers and creative brainstorming. With plugins and integrations, you can even connect ChatGPT to your internal data or trigger automations.

Real-World Applications: How Businesses Use AI Programs

Let’s get concrete. Here are a few real-world ways businesses are using AI programs in 2026:

• Automating Customer Support: Ridge Wallet uses AI chatbots to handle 60% of support tickets, freeing up human agents for complex issues and improving response times ().
• Market Research: Jones Road Beauty analyzed thousands of customer reviews and social comments using AI, uncovering five key customer personas that shaped a successful new campaign ().
• Internal Data Analysis: Teams at Ridge use ChatGPT to analyze sales data and pull insights instantly—no data scientist required ().
• Product Innovation: Loftie used AI to develop a wellness app that generates personalized bedtime stories and recommendations, launching a new revenue stream in record time ().

The common thread? AI isn’t replacing humans—it’s amplifying what teams can do.

Looking ahead, here are the trends I’m watching for 2026 and beyond:

• Smarter, more autonomous automation: AI agents will handle multi-step tasks with minimal human input. Think “set it and forget it” for entire workflows ().
• AI everywhere: Every business app will have built-in AI features, from CRM to spreadsheets to HR platforms ().
• Industry-specific AI: Expect more tools tailored to your sector, with deeper domain knowledge and compliance baked in ().
• Human-AI collaboration: Teams will work alongside AI “colleagues,” with new roles like “AI coach” or “agent trainer” emerging.
• Regulation and ethics: Expect more oversight, transparency, and best practices for responsible AI use.

How to Choose the Best AI Program for Your Business Needs

Choosing the right AI program doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here’s my step-by-step framework:

1. Define your goals: What problem are you trying to solve? Be specific.
2. Research options: Look for tools that address your use case. Read reviews and case studies.
3. Test drive: Take advantage of free trials. Run real tasks and get team feedback.
4. Check support and reputation: Look for responsive vendors and strong user communities.
5. Analyze costs and ROI: Match the pricing model to your usage. Estimate the value you’ll get.
6. Pilot and measure: Start small, track results, and scale up if it works.
7. Plan integration and training: Make sure your team is set up for success.

And don’t be afraid to ask vendors tough questions—about data privacy, uptime, roadmap, and more.

Conclusion: Unlocking Business Growth with the Right AI Program

AI programs aren’t just a “nice to have” anymore—they’re essential for staying competitive, efficient, and innovative. The best AI program for your business is the one that fits your needs, is embraced by your team, and delivers real ROI. Start small, experiment, and scale up as you see results.

If you’re ready to see what AI can do for your business, . Or explore the other top tools on this list—there’s never been a better time to work smarter, not harder.

Curious for more? Check out the for deep dives on AI, automation, and the future of business tech.

FAQs

1. What is the most important feature to look for in an AI program for business?
The most important feature depends on your needs, but generally, versatility and ease of use top the list. You want a tool that can handle multiple tasks and is accessible to your whole team—not just the IT crowd.

2. How do I know if an AI program will deliver ROI for my business?
Estimate the time or money it will save (or earn) compared to its cost. Most leading AI tools offer free trials—use them to run real tasks and measure the impact before committing.

3. What makes Thunderbit different from other AI web scrapers?
Thunderbit uses AI to automate field detection, subpage/pagination scraping, and data export—all with a no-code, natural language interface. It’s designed for business users who want results fast, without technical headaches.

4. Are there risks to adopting AI programs in my business?
Like any tech, there are risks—data privacy, compliance, and the need for training. Choose reputable vendors, check their privacy policies, and start with pilot projects to manage risk.

5. Will AI replace my team?
AI is best seen as an amplifier, not a replacement. It handles repetitive or data-heavy tasks, freeing your team to focus on strategy, creativity, and building relationships. The most successful businesses use AI to empower their people, not sideline them.

Ready to unlock new growth with AI? Dive in, experiment, and let your business reap the rewards.