How small businesses can harness AI to win big
But here's the good news: Artificial intelligence (AI) has finally matured to the point where it's not just for Silicon Valley giants anymore—it's accessible, affordable, and downright essential for small businesses like yours and mine.
I've spent the past year diving headfirst into AI, testing tools, automating tasks, and learning how to make smarter decisions with less effort. Let me tell you: the game has changed. If you're not using AI in your small business yet, you're leaving time, money, and opportunity on the table.
So, let's talk about the most beneficial AI technologies for small businesses and how you can start using them today.
Let's start with the obvious one: customer support.
Back in the day, I'd spend hours answering emails, DMs, and support tickets. Now? My AI chatbot handles 80% of it. Tools like Zendesk AI, Intercom, and ChatGPT-powered bots can answer FAQs, process refunds, route requests, book appointments, and even upsell products or services.
The best part? Customers get instant responses—24/7—and I get my time back. You no longer need a huge support team to deliver a world-class customer experience. You just need the right AI assistant.
Tip: Train your chatbot using your actual FAQs, product descriptions, and tone of voice. The more context you give it, the better it performs.
2. AI FOR CONTENT CREATION AND MARKETING
If marketing feels like a full-time job (on top of the one you already have), AI can seriously lighten the load. Tools like Jasper, Copy.ai, and ChatGPT can write social media posts, blog articles, email newsletters, product descriptions, and ad copy.
I've used AI to brainstorm campaigns, rewrite emails, and even script videos. It doesn't replace your voice—it enhances it. What used to take me hours now takes minutes.
Tip: Use AI to generate a first draft, then add your personal touch. It saves time and keeps your content authentic.
3. AI-POWERED ANALYTICS AND FORECASTING
Small businesses often operate on gut instinct, but now we have better tools. Platforms like Zoho Analytics, Tableau with AI plugins, and Microsoft Power BI now include predictive analytics powered by machine learning. You can forecast sales, spot trends, and even identify customer churn risks without needing a data science degree.
I recently used predictive AI to forecast which products would perform best in Q2 based on seasonal trends and customer behavior. That insight helped me adjust inventory ahead of time and avoid overstocking slow movers.
Tip: Start by consistently tracking your data—sales, customer behavior, engagement, etc. Remember: AI is only as smart as the data you give it.
4. AI FOR HIRING AND HR
Hiring is tough, especially for small businesses competing with big employers. AI recruiting platforms like Breezy HR, HireVue, and Recruitee can scan resumes for qualifications, rank candidates, automate interview scheduling, and even assess soft skills through video AI.
Personally, these tools have saved me weeks of manual review and even helped me find team members who were a better fit long term.
Tip: Use AI to screen and streamline, but never fully replace the human touch in hiring. Culture still matters more than keywords.
5. AI-DRIVEN INVENTORY AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
If your business relies on physical products, AI can help you run leaner and smarter. Tools like NetSuite, ShipBob AI, or TradeGecko (now QuickBooks Commerce) can help predict demand, optimize restocking, automate purchase orders, and spot supply chain issues before they become disasters.
For my small product line, this has meant better margins, fewer stockouts, and happier customers.
Tip: Sync your AI tools with your sales platform (like Shopify or Square) so you can make decisions based on real-time data.
6. AI PERSONALIZATION TOOLS
Customers now expect a personalized experience. AI lets you deliver it without hiring a full-time marketing team. Tools like Klaviyo, HubSpot, and Salesforce AI analyze customer behavior and send smart product recommendations, personalized offers, and dynamic email content. This kind of personalization used to be a luxury—now, it's standard.
Tip: Set up customer segments and let the AI learn from how people interact with your emails, website, or store.
AI ISN'T REPLACING US—IT'S EMPOWERING US
I know some people worry that AI is going to take jobs or replace business owners. But here's what I've learned: AI doesn't replace people—it replaces inefficiency. It gives small business owners like us more time to focus on growth, strategy, and service—the things only humans can truly master.
If you've been on the fence, now's the time to experiment. Pick one area of your business where you're spending too much time or money. Find an AI tool. Try it. Tweak it. Learn from it. The earlier you adopt, the further ahead you'll be.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
36 minutes ago
- Business Insider
Cathie Wood Buys the Dip in CoreWeave Stock (CRWV) While Wall Street Remains Cautious
CoreWeave (CRWV) stock has plunged nearly 33% since the company announced its second-quarter results. The artificial intelligence (AI)-powered cloud computing company generated a 207% jump in its Q2 revenue but reported a larger-than-anticipated loss. Moreover, concerns about near-term volatility due to the end of the lock-up period, which allows early investors and insiders to sell the stock, are also weighing on investor sentiment. While Cathie Wood bought the dip in CoreWeave stock by purchasing 120,229 shares via the ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW) on Friday, Wall Street remains cautious due to high leverage and significant capex. Despite the recent pullback, CRWV stock has risen about 150% from its initial public offering (IPO) price of $40. Elevate Your Investing Strategy: Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. Meanwhile, CoreWeave's key AI chip supplier, Nvidia (NVDA), increased its stake in the AI infrastructure company in Q2 2025. Following the Q2 print, Bank of America Securities analyst Bradley Sills lowered the price target for CoreWeave stock to $168 from $185 and reiterated a Hold rating. The 4-star analyst noted that a 4% quarter-over-quarter rise in backlog, excluding the OpenAI deal, was somewhat disappointing, though it does not include a second announced expansion deal that will be included in Q3. Sills added that the company didn't provide much information about the status of the Core Scientific (CORZ) deal. He expects the speculation about regulatory scrutiny to remain an overhang on CRWV stock. Sills also expects the lock-up expiration to be an overhang on CoreWeave stock. That said, the analyst believes that CoreWeave remains well-positioned to benefit from a ramping AI infrastructure industry. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley analyst Keith Weiss reiterated a Hold rating on CoreWeave stock with a price target of $91. The 4-star analyst stated that accruing and expanding large contracts from the most demanding generative AI users validate CoreWeave's strong positioning for the ramping graphics processing units (GPU) build-out. Weiss thinks that large contract wins from Microsoft (MSFT) and ChatGPT-maker OpenAI are 'enabling a top-line scaling function,' but present a double-edged sword. While on one side, these deals validate CRWV's strong technology from the most demanding AI customers, on the other hand, they bring in a level of customer concentration risk, setting a high bar for other customers to become meaningful to the overall story. Is CoreWeave Stock a Good Investment? Overall, Wall Street is sidelined on CoreWeave stock, with a Hold consensus rating based on 16 Holds, six Buys, and two Sell recommendations. The average CRWV stock price target of $115.29 indicates 15.3% upside potential from current levels.
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
Man Used AI to Generate a Custom Tune for His BMW 335i
TikTok creator wyattwebsterrr might have just pulled off one of the wildest DIY tuning experiments yet. He recently bought a 2007 BMW 335i for $1,500. Of course, for that price, it wasn't perfect. It sat on 240,000 miles and needed a new transmission, which he paid just $200 for. Other than a straight-pipe exhaust, the BMW was completely stock. Then, he asked ChatGPT to write a custom tune. The result is a beater that would outrun a brand-new BMW 3 Series. Wyatt started with a simple question for ChatGPT: "Can you give me a custom tune for my 335i?" He then supplied the AI with details such as his ECU version, the fact that it has a 6-speed automatic transmission, and the type of turbos it was equipped with. In return, ChatGPT handed over a full custom tune file. Wyatt then used the MHD Tuning app to load the AI's creation straight onto the E90's ECU. Usually, this process would take hours, if not days, when working with a reputable tuner. But thanks to modern technology, it took just a few minutes. People love modifying 335i models because of the N54 engine that lives under the hood. From the factory, the twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six sends 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. Although Wyatt has yet to release all the power figures, he posted a TikTok showing the tuned 335i's new driving experience. Boost pressure jumped to 19.3 psi. The exhaust, once relatively tame, now delivered loud burbles and pops that were impossible to ignore. The rear tyres broke traction much easier than before, and the BMW's 0 to 60 mph time dropped to just 5.17 seconds. That's a full second quicker than before, thanks to a tune written entirely by an AI. Professional tuners spend years learning how to safely squeeze more performance out of an engine, while accounting for wear and tear and long-term reliability. While ChatGPT might be able to make a high-mileage BMW faster, there's always the risk of something breaking. Still, for a cheap 335i and a viral TikTok clip, it is hard to argue that this wasn't worth the gamble. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
Sam Altman's latest delusional AI prediction doesn't pass the test
Artificial intelligence has come a long way since OpenAI introduced the world to ChatGPT 3.5 in late 2022. The release of the large language model sets the stage for an AI revolution that the world is still trying to understand. AI has many more uses than running large language models (LLMs), and the business world is already using the advanced technology to transform e-commerce (like when Amazon uses AI to recommend products), automotive navigation (AI underpins the autonomous technology most car companies use), robotics, and image generation. Related: Tesla's biggest strength has suddenly become a liability ChatGPT, specifically, has been especially disruptive to education. Enterprising students have used ChatGPT to enhance their studies and reduce research time, while other students have just used the technology to cheat. But OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman says children born today will never be able to surpass the "intelligence" of his products. Sam Altman believes we are living in a technological Stone Age that will have future generations snickering at how bad we had it. "A kid born today will never be smarter than AI, ever. And a kid born today, by the time that kid kind of understands the way the world works, will just always be used to an incredibly fast rate of things improving and discovering new science," Altman said in a recent interview floating around on social media. Related: Economists send harsh message to White House over BLS nominee "They will never know any other world. It will seem totally natural. It will seem unthinkable and stone-age-like that we used to use computers or phones or any kind of technology that was not way smarter than we were." The citizens of his mythical future will eventually pity us lowly non-AI users. "We will think like, 'how bad those people of the 2020s had it,'" Altman added. The beauty of Altman's prediction is that he can be proven right in multiple ways. The tech could become so advanced and helpful that humans literally can't live without it, or children could become so slavish to LLMs like ChatGPT in the future that they become reliant on it to perform the simplest tasks. Last year, Turnitin's AI detection tool scanned over 200 million writing assignments and detected AI use in one in 10 assignments. However, only three out of every 100 assignments were primarily generated by AI. "We hit a steady state, and it hasn't changed dramatically since then," said Turnitin Chief Product Officer Annie Chechitelli. "There are students who are leaning on AI too much. But it's not pervasive. It wasn't this, 'The sky is falling.'" But Altman expects AI adoption to only increase in the near future, so the number of students using the tech to cheat will likely also increase. Harvard Graduate School of Education recently published a report on the use of AI by teens and young adult students. When asked what they wanted adults to know about AI, the kids said that AI is not just used to cheat, but is also helpful for finding answers to unasked questions. But 41% of the kids today (not the ones in Altman's future) said they are "acutely aware" of the potential issues with generative AI. "Across demographics, those surveyed also expressed fears about AI's impact on their future job markets, especially the creative pursuits they mentioned above. They also highlighted potential privacy concerns, and generative AI's use to create and spread misinformation and disinformation," the report said. So it appears Sam Altman and company have some work to do to create the future they seem to believe is inevitable. Related: Car buyers beware, the market appears to be shifting gears The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
