My thoughts on using AI in small business

Over the past few months, I’ve been getting questions about my use of AI in my small business: in my newsletters, courses and programmes. And I’ve begun seeing other creations—from the lovely people at Studio Cotton to the British author Sarah Hall—mention whether they use AI or not. 

That made me think—what is the role of AI in my small business?

Let me be really clear: I don’t think AI is necessarily bad. I don’t think it’s necessarily good. It’s a tool, and as for all tools, it’s what you do with it that matters.

On the cover of her new novel Helm Sarah Hall shares a maker’s mark: a circle with the words ‘human written’ around it. She explains it as follows:

The author has created a maker’s mark to assert the organic, biological, non-Al-generated nature of the novel’s creative composition and artistry. The author offers this as an affirmation of her craft.

Composition and craft are the two words that resonate with me in particular here. While not a I’m highly talented literary author as Sarah Hall is, what I create—newsletters, courses, programmes—is evidence of organic, biological, non-AI-generated composition. Of craft.

Inspired by Hall, I’ve created my own marker’s mark, using the logos that Sarah Robertson created for my business and newsletter as the foundation.

What my maker’s mark stands for

• Human connection;
• That you can be confident that the words you read are written by me, are a reflection of me—and therefore that when you read my newsletter or take my courses or programmes, you experience what it’s like to work with me;
• That what I write is always rooted in my own experience, my own needs and desires—and deeply rooted in the possibility of running a slow, gentle and profitable business.

Generative AI creates based on what already exists. I want to read and write based on what doesn’t exist yet in words in the world. That feeling or experience that someone is just now finding the words for the first time. Words that create connection, that help someone else feel seen.

No one is obliged to share whether they use AI or not, of course. It’s neither my aim nor my place to tell others what to do in this respect: these are my choices. 

And, for full transparency, this doesn’t mean I never use AI (does anyone still?).

When I’ve recently used AI:

• to check headlines using the Headline Studio App;
• to analyse data in the Oura App;
• when I recently wanted some ideas for an upcoming trip to York, especially when it came to expected costs;
• to transcribe a recorded feedback call.

In all of these instances, AI provides input—input I often tweak, or change, or ignore. That, I think, is the most effective way of using AI (or any tool): as an assistent, while we still do the thinking ourselves.

Some avenues to explore if this topic resonates with you:

• It shouldn’t be shameful to use a non-human assistent, AI, in your small business—don’t feel guilty yourself, or shame others. Also keep in mind that “using AI” is so broad, that black-and-white thinking is useless and counterproductive here;
• Think about your own use of AI, or not, and if you want to, be transparent about it;
• Create a maker’s mark to share the humanness of your work.