Robots Coming for Your Job? 6 Ways to Put AI to Work in Your Business

LinkedIn, Twitter, the news, and every boring first date conversation now include two letters: A and I. When people talk about artificial intelligence, the conversation goes anywhere from the topics of revolutionizing business to robots taking over the world.

When we get down to it, AI is not that sexy or exciting. It is just another tool that can save small business owners time and money.

So what is AI, and how can you use it for your small business? This quick explainer covers the basics and includes a few tips to help your business process become more efficient.

Artificial intelligence is the simulation of human intelligence by software. It is a machine pulling information from the internet using complex algorithms, like an inorganic processing system.

No, it does not have feelings—yet (cue the existential dread of every sci-fi writer of all time), nor does it have the benefit of human experience and nuance. What AI does have is a huge pool of data that it can pull information from and use to answer queries.

There are two main categories of AI: weak and strong. Weak AI describes a system that can do one specific job. Examples of weak AI would be ChatGPT, Amazon’s Alexa, or an online chat assistant. These systems can answer questions, but that is about it.

Strong AI is the most “human-like” version, can do many jobs, and tends to be more complicated. For example, a self-driving car can problem solve on the spot without a human’s involvement.

Artificial intelligence can simplify your to-do list for your small business, whether you use strong or weak AI. On the most basic level, AI is a great tool for language translation and answering simple questions.

AI can act as your pseudo-content or HR team for more extensive usage until you have the funding to hire a specialist. And later, AI can continue freeing you and your employees for other tasks, such as long-range planning.

However, AI is only helpful if you know exactly what you are looking for. Remember, you have to give it a prompt and vet the information it returns.

One of the most time-consuming tasks for small-business owners is writing content. Well-written and intentional content can secure a higher ranking on Google and burn the brand into the memory of potential customers. But if you are not a writer, an empty Google doc and the gymnastics of SEO can be intimidating. AI can save you here.

Designed by Open AI, ChatGPT is the current AI golden child. ChatGPT is easy to use and spits out great content, depending on the prompt and your fact-checking skills.

ChatGPT can explain scientific concepts, answer questions, draft emails, translate languages and write copy. Your query's quality and specificity solely determine the output's quality. A word to the wise: You need to fact-check anything you have AI write. ChatGPT can be rather inventive with “facts,” like this lawyer found out.

Grammarly is another free tool that uses AI to improve your writing. (It offers priced plans too, though.) For the free plan, you get vocabulary enhancement and checks on spelling, grammar, style, and plagiarism.

Notion AI is a mixture of ChatGPT and Grammarly with the power of both in one place. You simply start a new page, type a sentence and then scan over it with your mouse. An option to “ask AI” becomes available and clicking it will enhance your copy or respond to your requests.

Chatbots have been around since 1966 and are getting smarter every day. Customers can ask complicated questions about their own accounts and chatbots can respond with specifics. This ability to answer questions is possible because AI can pull data from previous conversations, making it a one-stop shop for any conversation you may have with a customer.

Now you don’t have to keep your business phone lines open at all hours of the day. Instead, you can rely on a chatbot to answer specific questions, point customers to resources, and document interactions.

AI and banking are not a new combination. You may not know this, but chatbots are common for customer service with banks. 

Now, more than ever, you will see chatbots used to answer account inquiries, money transfers, loan applications, credit score monitoring, fraud prevention, password resets, and insurance claims at any time of the day. 

Also, business banks like Novo, Bluevine, and Found all use AI to serve customers by pulling data from third-party sources. This data makes it possible for banks to make more nuanced financial decisions for small businesses applying for loans and better explain their findings to clients.

While AI can be an amazing tool—and we think you should check it out—AI is not perfect. Even though AI pulls data from millions of sources, you should still vet that information. It can include bias, discredited research, or it might just be fake.  

AI systems are also more vulnerable to hacking than other software, which can lead to a host of issues, like dangerous speed limits and autopilots going rogue. Another reason to double-check and keep checking any work AI helps you with.

To show that we practice what we preach, we used ChatGPT to write our conclusion. Enjoy.

Prompt:
Write a five-sentence final paragraph for an article about AI helping small businesses.

Response:
In conclusion, the integration of AI technology has proven to be a game-changer for small businesses across various industries. Through its advanced algorithms and automation capabilities, AI has empowered these enterprises to streamline their operations, enhance customer experiences, and achieve unprecedented levels of efficiency. From personalized marketing campaigns to predictive analytics and inventory management, AI has provided small businesses with the tools necessary to compete in an increasingly digital landscape. Moreover, the cost-effectiveness and accessibility of AI solutions have leveled the playing field, allowing smaller companies to harness the same cutting-edge technology as their larger counterparts. As we move forward, it is clear that embracing AI will continue to be crucial for the growth and success of small businesses, paving the way for a more agile and prosperous future.

Note: This text is in its original form delivered by ChatGPT and demonstrates why editing is necessary for AI responses.

Want some ideas for your HR software pick? Check out our favorite human resource software for small businesses.

Disclaimer

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.