@Videoguy: Love the angle you're taking — most AI guides feel either way too techy or just hype machines. What I’d really want to know is: how do you spot where AI genuinely saves time or adds value, versus where it's just a shiny toy? Also curious how to keep the human tone in customer-facing stuff when AI is involved.
What do you want to know about using AI in business?
- Thread starter Videoguy
- Start date
Which is why some of those who tried this have gone back to human support.
I know the types you're talking about, and I couldn't agree more. They are nauseating beyond belief.
However, be careful not to reject them out of hand. The developers will learn from feedback like ours, and they will improve. I predict the next generation will involve a lot more of the human component. After all, if they don't, nobody will use them, and they won't make money!
Soon, customers will welcome the typical customer service AI because it will take less time to enquire about products, and it will make businesses more efficient.
- Original Poster
- #45
Wow, a lot of good responses here. Thanks to everyone who has contributed. It's given me a lot to think about, and I can see there are a few misconceptions about AI that I'll need to address in the book.
In the meantime...
Here's an article I wrote and recently posted on LinkedIn, but it's worth reposting it here - and yes, I did use ChatGPT to help me write it, but I went through, edited and corrected it before posting.
What Every Business Leader Should Know About AI (But Probably Doesn’t)
You’ve probably heard a lot about AI by now. It’s in the news. It’s in your inbox, and it’s probably popping up in your team meetings too.
But here’s the truth…
Most business leaders are talking about AI, but very few are actually using it well — and that’s a pity, because AI isn’t just a passing trend. Used the right way, it can save time, boost productivity and help you reach more people with less effort. Let’s break it down — in plain English — so you know exactly what to pay attention to (and what to ignore).
AI Is Not Magic — It’s a Tool
A lot of people think AI is some kind of robot that does everything for you. That’s not how it works.
AI is like a super-clever assistant. It can help you write, edit, plan, and create — but only if you give it clear direction. If you put in weak input, you get weak results. Just like hiring the wrong person for a job, giving AI vague instructions leads to bad outcomes. If you're familiar with javascript, look-up JSON AI prompts, it's based on the type of formatting used there and can give AI very specific instructions. When you learn to ask better questions, and give it the right prompts, AI becomes an incredibly powerful tool. It can’t do everything, though. There are (and always will be) areas that require the human touch.
AI Video: Fast, But Not Always Clever
One of the most exciting uses for AI is video creation.
Today, AI tools can:
• Turn blog posts into videos for posting on YouTube and other social media
• Create animated explainers from your script
• Auto-generate subtitles, cuts, and captions
• Even clone your voice or create avatars
Sounds pretty cool, right?
Yet here's where most businesses go wrong: They create a video just because they can — not because it actually fits a strategy. A poor-quality video, even made fast, still sends the wrong messages, and that can hurt your brand more than help it.
What AI Can Do for Businesses
Used well, AI can:
Save hours of production time
Repurpose old content into something fresh
Help you reach more customers with less cost
Build trust and authority — quickly
With AI video for example: You don’t need a full film crew, you need a clear message, the right tools and someone who understands both. Imagine this: Instead of a 3-week video project, you turn around a polished explainer in 3 days. Not with gimmicks, but with real value. That’s the power of combining strategy + AI.
So What Should You Do?
If you’re a business leader, you don’t need to become an AI expert, but you do need to understand how it can help you grow.
Here’s what I recommend:
1. Start Small – Pick one area of your business to test AI tools. (Video, customer service, email, etc.)
2. Stay Strategic – Don’t just use AI for the sake of using it. Know what it’s for and what it should do.
3. Get Help – Find someone who knows the tools and knows messaging. That’s where the real results happen.
Want Help Figuring It Out?
I offer a free AI Video Health Check where I:
• Review your current content
• Identify where AI could save you time
• Suggest simple ways to improve your messaging using video
It’s quick, no strings attached — and often leads to a big “a-ha” moment.
Just message me and I’ll send the details.
Final Thought: Don't Get Left Behind
AI isn’t going away. The businesses that learn how to use it well will win more attention, build more trust and grow faster — while everyone else is still trying to catch up. This isn’t about chasing trends; it’s about working better. You don’t need to do everything, but you do need to do something. So start here, start now, and start with clarity over hype.
In the meantime...
Here's an article I wrote and recently posted on LinkedIn, but it's worth reposting it here - and yes, I did use ChatGPT to help me write it, but I went through, edited and corrected it before posting.
What Every Business Leader Should Know About AI (But Probably Doesn’t)
You’ve probably heard a lot about AI by now. It’s in the news. It’s in your inbox, and it’s probably popping up in your team meetings too.
But here’s the truth…
Most business leaders are talking about AI, but very few are actually using it well — and that’s a pity, because AI isn’t just a passing trend. Used the right way, it can save time, boost productivity and help you reach more people with less effort. Let’s break it down — in plain English — so you know exactly what to pay attention to (and what to ignore).
AI Is Not Magic — It’s a ToolA lot of people think AI is some kind of robot that does everything for you. That’s not how it works.
AI is like a super-clever assistant. It can help you write, edit, plan, and create — but only if you give it clear direction. If you put in weak input, you get weak results. Just like hiring the wrong person for a job, giving AI vague instructions leads to bad outcomes. If you're familiar with javascript, look-up JSON AI prompts, it's based on the type of formatting used there and can give AI very specific instructions. When you learn to ask better questions, and give it the right prompts, AI becomes an incredibly powerful tool. It can’t do everything, though. There are (and always will be) areas that require the human touch.
AI Video: Fast, But Not Always CleverOne of the most exciting uses for AI is video creation.
Today, AI tools can:
• Turn blog posts into videos for posting on YouTube and other social media
• Create animated explainers from your script
• Auto-generate subtitles, cuts, and captions
• Even clone your voice or create avatars
Sounds pretty cool, right?
Yet here's where most businesses go wrong: They create a video just because they can — not because it actually fits a strategy. A poor-quality video, even made fast, still sends the wrong messages, and that can hurt your brand more than help it.
What AI Can Do for BusinessesUsed well, AI can:
Save hours of production time Repurpose old content into something fresh Help you reach more customers with less cost Build trust and authority — quicklyWith AI video for example: You don’t need a full film crew, you need a clear message, the right tools and someone who understands both. Imagine this: Instead of a 3-week video project, you turn around a polished explainer in 3 days. Not with gimmicks, but with real value. That’s the power of combining strategy + AI.
So What Should You Do?If you’re a business leader, you don’t need to become an AI expert, but you do need to understand how it can help you grow.
Here’s what I recommend:
1. Start Small – Pick one area of your business to test AI tools. (Video, customer service, email, etc.)
2. Stay Strategic – Don’t just use AI for the sake of using it. Know what it’s for and what it should do.
3. Get Help – Find someone who knows the tools and knows messaging. That’s where the real results happen.
Want Help Figuring It Out?I offer a free AI Video Health Check where I:
• Review your current content
• Identify where AI could save you time
• Suggest simple ways to improve your messaging using video
It’s quick, no strings attached — and often leads to a big “a-ha” moment.
Just message me and I’ll send the details. Final Thought: Don't Get Left BehindAI isn’t going away. The businesses that learn how to use it well will win more attention, build more trust and grow faster — while everyone else is still trying to catch up. This isn’t about chasing trends; it’s about working better. You don’t need to do everything, but you do need to do something. So start here, start now, and start with clarity over hype.
Wow, a lot of good responses here. Thanks to everyone who has contributed. It's given me a lot to think about, and I can see there are a few misconceptions about AI that I'll need to address in the book.
In the meantime...
Here's an article I wrote and recently posted on LinkedIn, but it's worth reposting it here - and yes, I did use ChatGPT to help me write it, but I went through, edited and corrected it before posting.
What Every Business Leader Should Know About AI (But Probably Doesn’t)
You’ve probably heard a lot about AI by now. It’s in the news. It’s in your inbox, and it’s probably popping up in your team meetings too.
But here’s the truth…
Most business leaders are talking about AI, but very few are actually using it well — and that’s a pity, because AI isn’t just a passing trend. Used the right way, it can save time, boost productivity and help you reach more people with less effort. Let’s break it down — in plain English — so you know exactly what to pay attention to (and what to ignore).
A lot of people think AI is some kind of robot that does everything for you. That’s not how it works.
AI is like a super-clever assistant. It can help you write, edit, plan, and create — but only if you give it clear direction. If you put in weak input, you get weak results. Just like hiring the wrong person for a job, giving AI vague instructions leads to bad outcomes. If you're familiar with javascript, look-up JSON AI prompts, it's based on the type of formatting used there and can give AI very specific instructions. When you learn to ask better questions, and give it the right prompts, AI becomes an incredibly powerful tool. It can’t do everything, though. There are (and always will be) areas that require the human touch.
One of the most exciting uses for AI is video creation.
Today, AI tools can:
• Turn blog posts into videos for posting on YouTube and other social media
• Create animated explainers from your script
• Auto-generate subtitles, cuts, and captions
• Even clone your voice or create avatars
Sounds pretty cool, right?
Yet here's where most businesses go wrong: They create a video just because they can — not because it actually fits a strategy. A poor-quality video, even made fast, still sends the wrong messages, and that can hurt your brand more than help it.
Used well, AI can:
With AI video for example: You don’t need a full film crew, you need a clear message, the right tools and someone who understands both. Imagine this: Instead of a 3-week video project, you turn around a polished explainer in 3 days. Not with gimmicks, but with real value. That’s the power of combining strategy + AI.
If you’re a business leader, you don’t need to become an AI expert, but you do need to understand how it can help you grow.
Here’s what I recommend:
1. Start Small – Pick one area of your business to test AI tools. (Video, customer service, email, etc.)
2. Stay Strategic – Don’t just use AI for the sake of using it. Know what it’s for and what it should do.
3. Get Help – Find someone who knows the tools and knows messaging. That’s where the real results happen.
I offer a free AI Video Health Check where I:
• Review your current content
• Identify where AI could save you time
• Suggest simple ways to improve your messaging using video
It’s quick, no strings attached — and often leads to a big “a-ha” moment.
AI isn’t going away. The businesses that learn how to use it well will win more attention, build more trust and grow faster — while everyone else is still trying to catch up. This isn’t about chasing trends; it’s about working better. You don’t need to do everything, but you do need to do something. So start here, start now, and start with clarity over hype.
That's kind of like a waffly advert, I'd directly contradict the final paragraph- you won't get left behind. It won't build trust, nor will you grow faster .
AI will definitely play a role in the future. Some businesses will be founded entirely on the back of it. Some will quietly integrate it behind the scenes
As with every big tech wave, lots of fools will lose their shirts in a desperate rush to be first.
And clever people will make lots of money out of them.
I agree - I wouldn't do that. Some business owners think that AI will significantly reduce overhead ... many are finding out that now the case and are now rehiring the people they laid-off. Our position is that AI + Human is better than just human (disagree if you want), but I think @Ozzy 's reflection earlier clearly supports that.
Thanks for this @apricot . We are creating a SaaS looks to fulfil a similar need - when I saw this app a couple of months back I thought "we're too late" but thought that it looked a bit too "playful". Since then i have seen more like it but have decided to motor on regardless. This continues to be one of our concerns; overwhelming our clients. Duly Noted!
Like this bank in Oz:
Bank reverses decision to replace 45 staff with chatbot
: Also fired another AI - GitHub Copilot - after it produced ‘mixed results in utilization and efficacy’
A couple of examples of my use of chatgpt
1. I was researching a good monitor for a friend who does a lot of embroidery research. Google just gave me general monitor results. ChatGPT gave me results based on the usage patern. GIGO applies. You have to give it the correct input for it to be any use
2.I don't use it to generate a lot of code. But is has saved me a lot of time in creating code snippets for a small task. Again, you have to give it the right question or GIGO
1. I was researching a good monitor for a friend who does a lot of embroidery research. Google just gave me general monitor results. ChatGPT gave me results based on the usage patern. GIGO applies. You have to give it the correct input for it to be any use
2.I don't use it to generate a lot of code. But is has saved me a lot of time in creating code snippets for a small task. Again, you have to give it the right question or GIGO
Sadly, and this isn't just restricted to AI but also any 'interesting' trend, is that many businesses will try to jump on a bandwagon without proper planning.
I profited handsomely from the 'website' wave in the 1990s when I owned a website design business. Everyone needed a website because everyone else had a website. The same is happening with AI, but those who plan it properly and use AI with a proper plan will benefit from it.
We made decent money by financing website builds. A free-for-all where the supply chain and 'asset value' were esoteric at best.
Small businesses spending 6 figures on websites with no strategy beyond 'we have to have one'
Developers/designers charging what they liked - some overtly dishonest, most technically competent, but completely uninterested in marketing strategy or business outcomes.
From memory, the flavour of the month was Flash. Which cost a fortune, slowed things down and was apparently disliked by search engines.
Oh god yep I remember everyone wanting 'Flash', one of my clients (a lap dancing club) wants Flash animation for their dancers with voice over audio for navigation, all the bells and whistles. Paid a fortune for it; but it did look good.
What are these mobile phone things,? just a longer wire from the body on the desk to the headset
Comments in no particular order:
Like everything else its a tool and its worth keeping up, its an ever changing landscape out there, personally I think, bury your head in the sand at your peril.
Last thought from me here - my son's pointed out to me earlier this month I should stop talking to it like it was human, come on boys call me old fashioned but saying please, thank you and good morning is just being polite.
- Have to say I have yet come across a great company chat help I always seem to end up having to speak to a human just to have the most basic of questions answered. Then the most frustrating bit is going through all the 'this is me and the security bits' again.
- Like everything else rubbish in rubbish out
- Its great for research saves me hours, and when the trading day can be some what manic, its working on results on another screen for me, I wouldn't be without it now.
- Pet hate - People who send you emails clearly written by AI coming across like they are some sort of highflying company leader. Quite often replying to an email which they clearly never read.
- I find It's great for using as an accountancy tool. I am also aware my son in particular swears he would have to hire an admin person for his business if not for the AI he's running.
- I also find it useful again for fast legal queries
- I also use it as a general planning tool, useful for throwing in different info especially useful for when quick finical outcomes are needed.
- AI obviously good for all round general info
Like everything else its a tool and its worth keeping up, its an ever changing landscape out there, personally I think, bury your head in the sand at your peril.
Last thought from me here - my son's pointed out to me earlier this month I should stop talking to it like it was human, come on boys call me old fashioned but saying please, thank you and good morning is just being polite.
We must be using different AI.
Google search AI results are more often wrong for me, usually asking how to do something on a webpage or in a particular application.
Today I have had different results for exactly the same question. Google "how do i leave a review on screwfix.com". The first time it was actually helpful, now all I get is the wrong answer every time.
Then I asked it how to do something in Picoscope software - wrong answer again. It's obviously had some training on the online help for this, but it still makes s**t up.
Etc., etc., etc., ...
Another example of ChatGPT
I asked it for some vba code to reinstate the clipboard after Microsoft cleared during the de-activation process.
I got some code and tested it. It worked but copied the formulae, not the values. So I refined the question and got an updated answer.
This iterative use is a great time saver
I asked it for some vba code to reinstate the clipboard after Microsoft cleared during the de-activation process.
I got some code and tested it. It worked but copied the formulae, not the values. So I refined the question and got an updated answer.
This iterative use is a great time saver
I usually agree with you, but would question much of the above.
AI effectively scrapes information, which can be useful in many ways, but as a source of advice - particularly legal advice, can be extremely dangerous (as we saw in a recent thread)
Much like advice on here, it needs solid context and careful thought.
A friend of mine is a big etsy seller. She showed me yesterday that they've implemented a new AI system to tell you that the attributes in your listings are wrong and literally forces you to change them. She sells prints and their 'automated fixing' of her listings was adding things like felt and stainless steel as 'materials' in her prints.
The mention of structured JSON prompting is a massive takeaway here. Most business owners treat LLMs like a magic mirror from a fairytale rather than a database that needs clear syntax. We started testing structured frameworks for our internal content last quarter, and the shift in quality was night and day.Wow, a lot of good responses here. Thanks to everyone who has contributed. It's given me a lot to think about, and I can see there are a few misconceptions about AI that I'll need to address in the book.
In the meantime...
Here's an article I wrote and recently posted on LinkedIn, but it's worth reposting it here - and yes, I did use ChatGPT to help me write it, but I went through, edited and corrected it before posting.
What Every Business Leader Should Know About AI (But Probably Doesn’t)
You’ve probably heard a lot about AI by now. It’s in the news. It’s in your inbox, and it’s probably popping up in your team meetings too.
But here’s the truth…
Most business leaders are talking about AI, but very few are actually using it well — and that’s a pity, because AI isn’t just a passing trend. Used the right way, it can save time, boost productivity and help you reach more people with less effort. Let’s break it down — in plain English — so you know exactly what to pay attention to (and what to ignore).
A lot of people think AI is some kind of robot that does everything for you. That’s not how it works.
AI is like a super-clever assistant. It can help you write, edit, plan, and create — but only if you give it clear direction. If you put in weak input, you get weak results. Just like hiring the wrong person for a job, giving AI vague instructions leads to bad outcomes. If you're familiar with javascript, look-up JSON AI prompts, it's based on the type of formatting used there and can give AI very specific instructions. When you learn to ask better questions, and give it the right prompts, AI becomes an incredibly powerful tool. It can’t do everything, though. There are (and always will be) areas that require the human touch.
One of the most exciting uses for AI is video creation.
Today, AI tools can:
• Turn blog posts into videos for posting on YouTube and other social media
• Create animated explainers from your script
• Auto-generate subtitles, cuts, and captions
• Even clone your voice or create avatars.
Yet here's where most businesses go wrong: They create a video just because they can — not because it actually fits a strategy. A poor-quality video, even made fast, still sends the wrong messages, and that can hurt your brand more than help it.
Used well, AI can:
With AI video for example: You don’t need a full film crew, you need a clear message, the right tools and someone who understands both. Imagine this: Instead of a 3-week video project, you turn around a polished explainer in 3 days. Not with gimmicks, but with real value. That’s the power of combining strategy + AI.
If you’re a business leader, you don’t need to become an AI expert, but you do need to understand how it can help you grow.
Here’s what I recommend:
1. Start Small – Pick one area of your business to test AI tools. (Video, customer service, email, etc.)
2. Stay Strategic – Don’t just use AI for the sake of using it. Know what it’s for and what it should do.
3. Get Help – Find someone who knows the tools and knows messaging. That’s where the real results happen.
I offer a free AI Video Health Check where I:
• Review your current content
• Identify where AI could save you time
• Suggest simple ways to improve your messaging using video
It’s quick, no strings attached — and often leads to a big “a-ha” moment.
AI isn’t going away. The businesses that learn how to use it well will win more attention, build more trust and grow faster — while everyone else is still trying to catch up. This isn’t about chasing trends; it’s about working better. You don’t need to do everything, but you do need to do something. So start here, start now, and start with clarity over hype.
However, there’s a hidden trap nobody warns you about: the "human editing tax." As you mentioned, you had to thoroughly edit the ChatGPT output. A lot of managers get caught off guard when they realise they’ve essentially hired a hyper-enthusiastic, unpaid intern who writes beautifully but occasionally makes things up with absolute confidence. The real skill in 2026 isn't just prompting; it's knowing how to be a ruthless Editor-in-Chief to your own AI tools.
Solid practical advice overall, especially on starting with small, isolated tasks. Best of luck with the book!
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