It’s official. Artificial intelligence has entered the business world, and it’s here to stay. While it may sound intimidating, we encourage you not to be afraid and embrace the endless possibilities of AI tools for business!
AI is here to make your life easier and is spanning its reach across various industries. Small business owners and digital creators should be embracing AI tools as a helping hand instead of being viewed as a replacement.
At Say Yes, we’ve been loving the addition of AI to our team. Some of our favorite AI tools for business include:
Chat GPT
Canva AI
Notion AI
While they cannot replace writers entirely, these AI tools help us save time by helping us do “whiteboarding” sessions, generating lists, brainstorming and workshopping ideas for headlines and email subject lines, as well as creating outlines and rewriting content in a new way. Our business already uses Canva and Notion daily, and their AI features were unrolled in early 2023.
Other AI tools you could consider implementing in your business are:
Customer Service Website Widgets and Chat Bots
Caption Generators for reels and videos
There are a lot of unknowns about AI. We recommend getting your client's permission if you may be sharing and storing confidential information. For example, if you’re implementing Motion for project management, scheduling, and notes, you may be saving sensitive information (personal phone numbers, private meeting notes, addresses), or even with Open AI’s ChatGPT, you may have to lean heavily on your moral compass and use discernment with what you ask of it. Because of how new this technology is to the public, we foresee a lot of legal issues ahead if not used properly, with leaked information being a high concern.
So, What is AI?
To start, we need to understand what exactly AI is when it comes to business tools. Essentially, artificial intelligence is intelligence demonstrated by machines to perform tasks typically done by a human.
In business, AI has taken over simple tasks that don’t need a complex human mind. For example, email automation, organization, and simple content writing can be done by AI but may need human review.
If you’re interested in using AI tools for business, great! The important thing is to remember that you’ll need to do your research and find the correct tools that work for you. Remember, AI isn’t meant to replace you or your team! It’s merely a tool to help you run your business more efficiently. With that being said, it’s important to know what you’re getting into with AI and use it properly. Here are some of the do’s and don’ts of implementing AI tools for business.
The Do’s of AI
Fact Check AI Content
If you’re using AI writing tools, it’s imperative that you fact-check it. For example, if you ask Chat GPT to write you a blog on a complex subject that would require research, you’ll have to do that yourself. AI writing tools don’t add links to resources to back up the information.
Check for Plagiarism
As you start to use AI tools for writing, you may notice it can become repetitive. We suggest using a plagiarism checker to ensure the content is totally original. It should be a tool to help you write, not something you totally rely on for content! We have also noticed AI can be a bit on the dry side, so the writing will need some personality.
Consider Ethics With AI
Don't ignore ethical considerations when using AI. AI systems can perpetuate biases and discrimination if not properly designed and implemented.
Use the Right AI Tools
Choose the right AI solution that fits your business needs. This could mean selecting an off-the-shelf product or developing a custom solution. Don't rush into using AI without doing proper research and planning. This could lead to wasted time and money and potentially negative impacts on your business operations.
The Don’ts of AI Tools for Business
Now let’s talk about what NOT to do when it comes to AI tools for business.
Don’t Rely on AI Completely
AI tools like Chat GPT are great but shouldn’t be relied on completely. If you’re using AI tools to write content, a human should always look over it. The writing can be repetitive and should always be checked to ensure it isn’t pulling from previously posted content. In some instances, AI can even have a bias or say something offensive.
Don’t Expect it to be Perfect
AI is good, but it’s not that good…yet. These tools shouldn’t be expected to be perfect, and there will be errors at some point. It’s important to set the expectation that issues can occur.
Don’t Use AI Imagery
When AI tools began to rise in popularity, we first saw images. While they can look incredible, they tend to veer into the uncanny valley territory. On top of that, there have been cases where AI has been stealing images from artists with copyright issues.
In fact, there is currently a lawsuit in Delaware regarding AI images. Getty Images is suing AI company Stability AI Inc, accusing the company of misusing 12 million Getty photos to train their AI. With new technology comes a minefield of legality and ethical concerns that must be sifted through. We recommend staying away from AI tools for images for now, as the kinks get worked out.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that AI tools for business are here to stay, and as business owners, we should embrace them. At Say Yes, we have been loving the increased efficiency and organization AI has brought to the table. Have you tried any AI tools for business? Let us know what you think!