It's hard to hide from the increasing presence of AI at the moment, and it's only going to get bigger. So, do you want to use AI for your business?
I have used AI before, just for researching, but after attending a Digital Skills workshop recently, I found out more about it, what it is, the power of AI and how we can use AI for your business as a great help rather than a hindrance. It was positively enlightening!

What is AI?
AI is short for Artificial Intelligence. Basically, systems to make machines and other technology think like humans. A lot of people are against AI as they believe that it will allow machines to take over the world and steal everyone’s jobs! But there are also just as many people who are now embracing AI. So let’s see how you can use AI for your business:
There are two types of AI:
-
Augmented AI that can assist or help you with a task
-
Automated AI that is totally undertaken by AI
My recommendation, to start off with, is to play about with all the types of things AI can do. However, depending on your use for it, it can sometimes be better to use augmented over totally automated.
What can you do with AI?
Every day, there are more and more things that you can do with AI in your business. Most people who have heard of AI have heard of ChatGPT. ChatGPT seemed to take over the world in the last year, offering free AI writing tools. If you haven’t heard of ChatGPT, it’s much like a conversational tool. You ask it a question and it answers you.
You can ask it to write content for your website or social media, write you a blogging plan, tell you more about your ideal client and the problems they are facing – just about anything!
The secret to ChatGPT is what you put into it and the types of questions you ask to get the best results. The more you tell it about your business, the better it can help you.
However, a word of warning. If you decide to use AI for your business content, use it sparingly, as a guide only. Rewrite it into your own words, because AI-generated content is getting easily spotted and can be very similar to someone else’s who has asked it a similar question. So remember to always stand out and make things more unique to you.
But there is so much more!
You can use AI for your business as a chat or support for your clients who have questions. It can create images and videos, write your code for your website or even create a whole website layout.
There is also a website called Future Tools that can help you find the right AI tool for you, whether you want content creation, video editing, research or even just for fun.
Why you should use AI for your business
The real advantage comes when you think of AI as a partner rather than a replacement. For example, if you’re a small business owner, AI can save you hours each week by automating repetitive tasks such as scheduling posts, answering frequently asked questions, or generating reports. You can then reinvest that saved time into more meaningful work, like strategy, networking, or client relationships.
AI tools are also a great way to compete with bigger businesses. Where larger companies have full teams for marketing, design, and customer service, AI gives smaller organisations the chance to level the playing field. You can use AI for your business to create polished marketing campaigns, professional graphics, or even personalized email responses without needing a huge budget.
And the technology is only improving. From predictive analytics that help you forecast sales, to smarter chatbots that understand customer intent, AI is quickly becoming an essential tool for growth. The businesses that experiment now will be ahead of the curve when adoption becomes the norm.
So if you’ve been curious about whether to use AI for your business, start small, test different tools, and don’t be afraid to experiment. The more you explore, the quicker you’ll discover how AI can transform your workload and give you the freedom to focus on the parts of your business you love most.
A lot of these tools are free, so go ahead and have a play. A few of them also offer free trials, and if you want to know more about AI and how you can use AI for your business, then let's have a chat or feel free to join us over in The Tech Tavern!

