Artificial Intelligence and Economic Resilience: A Review of Predictive Financial Modelling for Post-Pandemic Recovery in the United States SME Sector

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are highly vulnerable to economic crises due to financial constraints and operational instability. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for robust financial systems. AI can help enhance resilience and financial sustainability. The purpose of this review study is to investigate how AI-driven predictive financial modelling can enable SMEs in the United States to maintain economic resilience in the aftermath of a pandemic. The findings show that AI adoption leads to considerable gains in financial decision-making, early risk detection, and resource optimization all of which are critical components of resilience. Predictive models may anticipate cash flow, evaluate credit risk, and provide SMEs with timely insights into market trends. However, challenges such as data quality and a lack of digital infrastructure may impede adoption, especially among resource-constrained or low-tech businesses. Therefore, predictive financial modelling powered by AI has transformative potential for increasing the resilience and competitiveness of United States SMEs in a dynamic and constantly developing economy.