Navigating the AI Frontier Without Losing Your Way as an SMB

What if you decided to turn to an AI program for assistance with something—let’s say a client proposal—only to discover, in the middle of signing the contract, that the AI had made up and included a half-off discount on the very thing that brought you most of your profit?

While hopefully hypothetical, this scenario can easily happen. So, while AI can be and often is a serious asset to business productivity, this is only the case when you are also paying attention. Let’s consider a few shortcomings that you avoid with the help of your human employees running interference. 

AI Isn’t Always Correct

It can be too easy to fall into the trap of seeing any output an AI generates as infallible. In reality, almost all artificial intelligence is currently a far, far stronger version of the autocomplete function you see on modern smartphones. Many are simply weighing probabilities to predict what letter is most likely to come after the preceding character. As a result, AI can (and often does) miss the mark, providing factually incorrect responses.

To mitigate this, everything an AI produces must be carefully reviewed by a human before being shared, used, or published.

AI Can Overshare

Sharing is caring, as the old saying goes. However, public AI tools take it a step further, often learning from whatever is provided to them and integrating that information into their responses going forward. Therefore, there is a non-zero chance that any sensitive data you input into a prompt—whether that’s client lists, trade secrets, business strategies, or employee information—is delivered to anyone else as a part of their answer in addition to yours. Unfortunately, this very much qualifies as a data breach.

It is therefore important that you are selective, both in which AI tools you use (avoiding free versions in favor of enterprise options with privacy guarantees), and in what your team can input into these tools at all.

AI Can Work as Shadow IT

Shadow IT—tools and technologies your employees start using for work without IT’s awareness or approval—can expose your business to serious issues, from cybersecurity shortcomings to compatibility issues to financial waste. Now, imagine the damage that can be done when these issues are combined with the capabilities of AI.

Rather than leaving your team to find solutions on their own, you need to provide them with the tools they need to accomplish their goals. Take time to train your employees on how to use your chosen toolkit safely and securely.

AI Can Detract from Your Voice

There are some keywords and phrases that clearly point to the use of AI that can alienate your prospects, clients, and customers. People would almost always rather work with your team as compared to a robot, beyond preliminary support. They simply won’t develop the trust in you that you want to inspire otherwise.

So, instead of using AI to produce your finished products, use it to outline and research for you, with you reviewing what was written and ensuring it is accurate and sincere. 

It’s Important to Treat AI as the Tool It Is

We can help! In addition to helping you strategize how you can put artificial intelligence to use, we can help you form a strategy that works for you. Give us a call at (276) 601-3208 to learn more.