By Mark Coupar
I recently attended an enlightening presentation on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for small and medium-sized businesses, presented by Howard Bowland.
Here are some key takeaways to help you understand and leverage AI in your operations if you are a small/medium business or someone who wants to get a brief overview of AI.
1. Why AI Matters for SMBs:
• Provides a competitive edge against larger companies,
• Improves efficiency and reduces costs,
• Enables data-driven decision making.
2. Understanding Generative AI:
• Creates new content based on patterns learned from existing data,
• Can generate text, images, music, and code,
• Works by filling in gaps and applying learned patterns.
3. Practical Applications for Your Business:
• Automating HR tasks (recruiting, performance reviews),
• Summarizing documents (contracts, tenders),
• Generating and refining correspondence and marketing materials,
• Enhancing product descriptions,
• Assisting with legal and contract work.
4. Getting Started with AI:
• Choose a free AI tool (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, see below),
• Start with familiar business areas,
• Experiment within your business or yourself,
• Focus on automating or accelerating laborious tasks,
• Consider taking a short course or recruiting AI-knowledgeable staff.
5. Popular AI Tools that have a powerful free version to get started with (and a paid version ~$30/mth):
• ChatGPT (Free / Plus version available)
• Microsoft Copilot (Free / Pro version available)
• Google Gemini (Free / Advanced version available)
• Claude Sonnet 3.5 (Free / Advanced version available)
I hope this information helps you navigate the world of AI for your business. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
