This article was primarily generated by AI, with our skilled team refining and enhancing the content to ensure it meets the high standards of our audience.
In today’s fast-paced business environment, small business owners are constantly seeking ways to do more with less. Whether it's managing operations, marketing, customer service, or product development, the demands are high and resources often limited. That’s where Artificial Intelligence (AI) comes in, not just as a tool, but as a teammate.
Adjunct Professor of Creativity at Stanford University, Jeremy Utley, offers a compelling vision in this 15 minute video,: AI isn’t just a machine that spits out answers, it’s a partner that can brainstorm, draft, analyse, and even challenge your thinking. When used effectively, AI can amplify your creativity, speed up decision-making, and help you focus on what matters most.
Why Collaborate with AI?
Unlike traditional software, AI systems like ChatGPT, Copilot, and others are designed to understand natural language, learn from context, and generate human-like responses. This means you can interact with them conversationally, just like you would with a colleague.
Here’s what makes AI a powerful collaborator:
- Speed: AI can process vast amounts of information in seconds.
- Availability: It’s always on, ready to help 24/7.
- Versatility: From writing emails to analysing data, AI can assist across domains.
- Creativity: AI can offer fresh ideas, alternative perspectives, and even help you overcome creative blocks.
Prompt Guidelines for Effective Collaboration
Here is a simple prompt that will get you collaborating with AI like a pro.
You’re an AI expert. I’d like your help figuring out where I can best use AI to make my business more productive.
Can you ask me one question at a time to understand my business and suggest 2 obvious and 2 non-obvious ways I can use AI?
Real-World Example: Discovering AI Opportunities Through Conversation
Business Owner: Tania, owner of a small eco-friendly home goods store.
AI Conversation Begins Using Prompt Above
AI: Great! To get started, can you tell me what your business does day-to-day?
Tania: We sell sustainable home products—like bamboo kitchenware, compost bins, and natural cleaning supplies—online and in a small retail space. I manage inventory, marketing, customer service, and supplier relationships.
AI: Thanks! What’s one part of your business that feels time-consuming or repetitive?
Tania: Definitely customer service. I get a lot of questions about product use, shipping, and sustainability claims.
AI: Got it. Do you use any digital tools for marketing or sales?
Tania: I use Shopify for the website and Mailchimp for newsletters. I post on Instagram and Facebook manually.
AI recommendations
Obvious uses of AI:
Customer Service Automation
Use AI-powered chatbots on your website to answer common questions instantly, like shipping times, product care, and eco-certifications. This frees up your time and improves customer experience.
Marketing Content Creation
AI can help you write product descriptions, social media captions, and email newsletters. You can prompt it with:
“Write a friendly Instagram post promoting our new compostable dish brushes for eco-conscious families.”
Non-obvious uses of AI:
Inventory Forecasting
AI tools can analyse past sales data and seasonal trends to predict which products will sell best next month. This helps you stock smarter and reduce waste.
Sustainability Storytelling
AI can help you craft compelling narratives about your products’ environmental impact. For example:
“Create a blog post explaining how our bamboo utensils reduce plastic waste, using a warm and educational tone.”
Outcome:
Tania implemented a chatbot and started using AI to draft her weekly newsletter and social posts. She also explored AI-powered analytics in Shopify to better manage inventory. Within two months, she reported:
A 30% drop in repetitive customer queries
A 25% increase in newsletter engagement
More time to focus on sourcing new products and building community partnerships
Final thoughts:
AI is not here to replace small business owners. It’s here to empower them. By treating AI as a teammate, you unlock a new level of productivity, creativity, and strategic thinking. Whether you're drafting a business plan, responding to customer inquiries, or exploring new ideas, AI can be your co-pilot.
So next time you sit down to tackle a task, ask yourself: “How would I brief a teammate?” Then, ask AI the same way—and watch what happens.
