How AI Can Work for You

TLDR: Make AI Work for You by Treating it Like an Employee

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries and redefining possibilities, but what does that mean for you, at-capacity business owner?

In this post, we will explore key ways to think about how AI can support your operations, focusing on practical applications, current capabilities based on what AI can do today, and mindful approaches to leveraging AI's potential.

(Our brilliant Ed hosted a webinar on this topic a few weeks back - you can catch the replay here. Say hi Ed!)

We've seen firsthand that the reality of AI implementation is often more nuanced than the headlines suggest - and it’s applications more simple to wrap your head around at present.

Understanding how it works and what it can accomplish is key to it working for you and it not becoming another abandoned project because of unrealistic expectations.

How to Think About AI’s Capabilities Today

So, how should businesses really be thinking about AI? Let's dive into some practical insights that can help you navigate the AI landscape and unlock genuine value for your organization.

When approaching AI, it's crucial to know its capabilities. Here are a few key ways to think about AI that can lead to more successful implementations:

• AI as an external hire - Imagine bringing on a new team member who knows nothing about your business, customers, or values. You'd need to provide extensive context and training – the same applies to AI. AI won’t just “give you a great recommendation.” It needs to know what you think a good recommendation is. You have to train it over time so it delivers consistently quality results.

• Crazy autocomplete for everything - AI excels at finding patterns and making connections, but it's not infallible. Think of it as an advanced autocomplete function that can sometimes miss the mark. Again, this is why training is vital. It won’t just “work.” You have to onboard it, as (see #1) you would a normal hire.

• A new type of computer that's bad at math - While traditional computers excel at calculations, AI shines in finding emotional and conceptual connections within data. Your AI is going to give you an answer based on the data in your system - not just because it does the math.

• An army of interns - Consider what tedious tasks you could offload to a large group of eager (but inexperienced) helpers. You’re not giving your interns the serious thought work, are you? Take the simple tasks you’d give your summer squad and consider ways that AI could accomplish some similar, low level tasks.

• The 80% solution - AI can handle the bulk of many tasks, but human expertise is still crucial for the initial creative phase and final quality control. Said another way… AI should never take over 100% of the process. Human intervention is vital for quality control and strategic direction.

AI is not a magic wand – it's a powerful tool that requires careful implementation and human oversight to truly shine.

The Current State of AI: What's Really Possible?

While the potential of AI is exciting, to start utilizing this new technology, it's essential to focus on what's achievable today. There are still groundbreaking AI applications that are likely still on the horizon. Just as it took time for smartphone apps to evolve beyond simple web-like experiences, we're still in the early stages of discovering AI's full potential.

Here are some immediate examples of ways you can implement current AI capabilities. All AIs aren’t created equally, so you’re also going to see a wide range of level of effort associated with each task:

• Low effort, little payoff - Simple chatbot integrations or "AI wrappers,” Conversations about your data (e.g., AI-powered FAQs)

• High effort, Little payoff - Smarter content recommendations

• Low effort, higher payoff - Distill and transform data, automated data entry

• High effort, high payoff - Auto-annotate data, replacing legacy products with AI-driven solutions

How to Approach Successful AI Implementation

Hire AI Like You'd Hire Engineers

To get the most out of AI, approach it as you would a human hire:

• Provide extensive training - AI needs more context than you might expect – multiply your usual onboarding materials by 2-3x.

• Use multiple specialized AIs - Don't rely on a single "do-it-all" solution. Break down problems and use smaller, cheaper AIs for specific tasks.

• Consider cost-effectiveness - Balance the expense of advanced AI against the value it provides to your users.

• Keep human experts involved - AI excels at the "middle 80%" of many tasks, but you still need skilled professionals for strategy and quality control.

Being Outcome-Driven with AI

• AI is not your product – it's a tool to help you achieve outcomes for your users and your business. It is a means to an end, not the end itself. Stay focused on your business goals:

• Use the SMART framework - Be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound in your AI objectives.

• Iterate quickly - Aim for monthly improvements rather than six-month moonshots.

• Solve real problems - Don't use AI just for the sake of using AI – ensure it's addressing genuine pain points and saving specific time.

Some Side Effects of AI You May Face

Here comes that part of the drug commercial where we start talking really fast about all the possible side effects of using AI. As with any powerful technology, AI comes with potential drawbacks:

• Higher costs - Advanced AI can be expensive to implement and run

• Slower speed - More complex models may have longer response times

• Reproducibility issues - Getting consistent results can be challenging

• Hallucinations - AI can sometimes generate convincing but false information

• Magical thinking - Avoid assuming AI can solve every problem

The Road Ahead

While AI presents exciting opportunities, it's crucial to approach it with a clear strategy and realistic expectations. By focusing on specific outcomes, iterating quickly, and maintaining human oversight, businesses can harness the power of AI to drive genuine innovation and efficiency.

As we continue to explore the possibilities of AI at ThinkNimble, we're excited to see how this technology will shape the future of product development and problem-solving. But we always remember that at its core, successful AI implementation is about solving real problems for real people – not chasing the latest trend.

If you’re ready to begin considering how AI can help your business, next steps are simple.

Just submit your info on this contact form.

We’ll reach out, and schedule a call to talk through the potential of what AI could do for your business.