The new She’ll Be Right Tax of 2026
I remember meeting the owner of most of the clothing stores in Bridge Road, Richmond, in 2010, who said: People will never buy clothes online, “you need to try them on, feel the fabric”
In less than 2 years, online brands like The Iconic launched, and with free returns, those clothing stores on Bridge Road were closing down fast.
AI in 2026 is exactly that moment. Except it’s happening much faster.
The Pattern We Keep Missing
Australian Business Tech Adoption: A History of “She’ll Be Right”
What's Actually Happening
The research
Researchers who test AI systems full-time have found something striking: AI capabilities are doubling every 7 months.
Seven months ago, AI could complete a 1-hour task on its own. Today? It can handle 2+ hour tasks. By mid-2026, AI can work a full 8-hour day without supervision.
That’s like hiring a digital employee who never sleeps, never takes a sickie, and costs a fraction of minimum wage.
Right now, AI is already handling customer service emails, basic bookkeeping and invoicing, writing product descriptions, creating simple graphics, scheduling appointments, and following up on quotes.
By the end of 2026, it’ll be handling full-day project management, complex market analysis, and expert-level problem-solving.
The Competition Gap
Productivity: Business Using AI vs. Business Not Using AI
By end of 2026, businesses using AI effectively will have 2-3x the productivity of those that don’t
The “She’ll Be Right” Tax
Your Action Plan: Prepare for AI Search
Step 1 – Get AI-Ready with Custom Schema Data
Make sure your website speaks AI’s language. Add structured data (schema markup) so AI search engines can understand what you do, where you are, and what you offer. Think of it like putting up a sign AI can actually read.
Step 2 – Content & SEO Audit (Topics & Audience, Not Keywords)
Forget keyword stuffing. AI search engines look for actual answers to real questions. Audit your content to make sure you’re covering the topics your customers care about, in language they actually use. Focus on being genuinely helpful, not gaming the system.
Step 3 – Answer Customer Questions & Get Recommended by AI Engines
When someone asks an AI “find me a plumber in Melbourne” or “best accounting software for small business,” you want to be the recommendation. Create content that directly answers common customer questions. AI engines recommend businesses that are helpful, not just visible.
Note
The Bottom Line
By the end of 2026, AI will match human expert performance across most industries
This isn’t about replacing your staff
It’s about staying competitive.
- The tradies using AI to generate quotes and manage jobs are winning more work.
- The retailers using AI to manage inventory are growing faster.
- The accountants using AI for routine work are taking on more clients.
The businesses that treated the internet as “just another tool to ignore” aren’t around anymore
AI in 2026 is Your Internet Moment
The only question is
Are you going to be the business owner who adapts early, or the one playing catch-up in 2027, wondering where all your customers went?
Don’t be the business that’s still trying to figure out email in 2026.
The exponential growth is real, it’s measurable, and it’s happening right now.
