This qualitative literature review examines the interplay of digital entrepreneurship and applied artificial intelligence (AI) in transforming rural businesses in developing economies. It also presents and discusses the implications for the fulfilment of the sustainable development goals, particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). It employs Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory framework to explore how AI innovations are adopted and spread within rural business settings. The findings demonstrate that rural businesses leveraging AI-enhanced digital entrepreneurship experience transformative benefits, especially concerning operational efficiency and economic resilience. Moreover, rural businesses employ diverse coping mechanisms to mitigate constraints that threaten the adoption of AI. By pinpointing the way rural entrepreneurs operate, this study contributes to theoretical knowledge about digital technology, digital entrepreneurship, and applied AI integration in transforming emerging economies such as those found in rural Zimbabwean businesses. They also provide valuable insights for policymakers seeking to initiate and design programmes that support digital entrepreneurship and the adoption of AI technologies in rural areas, to address these businesses’ unique constraints. Ultimately, AI-powered digital entrepreneurship democratises access to jobs in low-income communities to promote SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). However, the study’s reliance on secondary review sources, without primary data collection from rural business owner-managers, may limit the depth and nuance of the findings.