Experience with using AI

icup

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i'm wondering if any of you guys have experience using AI programs like Chat GPT

i work for a small service business and we've heard some things that AI may be quite helpful in devloping strategies, cutting the fat out of your operation, analyzing the business in different ways, etc

if you've used AI programs to help your business, what program did you use? how did you use AI to help out?
 

Doomsday

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https://chatgpt.com/ I pasted your question there got a long verbose answer you might wanna read here's some of it:

That’s a great question — and one that a lot of small business owners are asking right now.

I can share both **how small businesses are using AI** and **some examples of tools or approaches** that actually work in practice.

---

### 💡 Common Ways Small Businesses Use AI

1. **Marketing & Content Creation**

* **What AI does:** Writes social media posts, ad copy, blog articles, or newsletters.
* **Tools:** ChatGPT (for writing + strategy), Jasper, Copy.ai, Canva (for AI design).
* **Example:** A home services business uses ChatGPT to write Google Business updates, email promotions, and “seasonal maintenance” blog posts in minutes instead of hours.

2. **Customer Service & Communication**

* **What AI does:** Handles common inquiries through chatbots, drafts professional responses, and organizes customer communications.
* **Tools:** ChatGPT (integrated with email or CRM), Intercom, Zendesk AI, Tidio.
* **Example:** A plumbing company uses an AI chatbot to answer after-hours website questions like “Do you service my area?” or “What’s your hourly rate?” and collects leads overnight.

3. **Operations & Process Optimization**

* **What AI does:** Analyzes workflows, finds inefficiencies, and helps automate repetitive tasks.
* **Tools:** ChatGPT (for SOP creation), Notion AI, ClickUp AI, Zapier + OpenAI (for automation).
* **Example:** A cleaning company used AI to build detailed training guides for employees and to automate scheduling messages for clients.

4. **Financial & Business Analysis**

* **What AI does:** Helps interpret reports, identify cost savings, and forecast trends.
* **Tools:** ChatGPT (for data interpretation), Excel Copilot, Power BI + AI insights.
* **Example:** A landscaping business uploaded expense data into Excel and asked AI to identify where spending spikes occur — finding patterns in equipment maintenance costs.

5. **Strategic Planning**

* **What AI does:** Acts as a “thinking partner” — generating marketing strategies, pricing ideas, or expansion plans.
* **Tools:** ChatGPT or Claude 3 — for brainstorming, scenario planning, or SWOT analysis.
* **Example:** A pest control company used ChatGPT to outline a plan for entering a new neighborhood market, complete with SEO keywords, flyer ideas, and customer incentives.

---

### ⚙️ If You’re Just Getting Started

Here’s a simple roadmap:

1. **Start small.** Pick one process (e.g., marketing emails) and test how AI can save you time.
2. **Keep a human in the loop.** AI drafts; you review.
3. **Document your best prompts.** (Like “Write a social media post for [your service] highlighting [benefit] in [season].”)
4. **Use integrations.** Connecting ChatGPT or another AI to tools like Google Sheets, Gmail, or your CRM can be powerful.

---

If you tell me a bit more about your business (e.g., industry, number of employees, where you think you waste the most time), I can give you **specific examples and prompt templates** that could immediately help.

Would you like me to do that?
 

Doomsday

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However... Some of the tools mentioned that work with it, do cost. Low monthly subscriptions. Some are one time pay software. And there's 100s of AI programs out there some free, some fee.
 

dbair1967

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We use some AI programs but I am not sure if its ChatGPT or something else.

I know there's quite a few available now (I use GROK ai some at home) but I couldn't tell you which are better than others.
 

yimyammer

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i'm wondering if any of you guys have experience using AI programs like Chat GPT

i work for a small service business and we've heard some things that AI may be quite helpful in devloping strategies, cutting the fat out of your operation, analyzing the business in different ways, etc

if you've used AI programs to help your business, what program did you use? how did you use AI to help out?
I've used Grok to write several letters, a lease and simple legal docs, it's been amazing what it bangs out in a few seconds. I sent one to my attorney and he said I did an amazing job. When I told him it was Grok, he paused for a few seconds and then said "Oh shit!"

I had Gemini make a cartoon for me that is a funny line from the movie When Harry Met Sally and posted here for people to guess, but none of you sombiches would play along:

1762392385863.jpeg

 

icup

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I've used Grok to write several letters, a lease and simple legal docs, it's been amazing what it bangs out in a few seconds. I sent one to my attorney and he said I did an amazing job. When I told him it was Grok, he paused for a few seconds and then said "Oh shit!"

I had Gemini make a cartoon for me that is a funny line from the movie When Harry Met Sally and posted here for people to guess, but none of you sombiches would play along:

View attachment 20827


this is the type of stuff i'd like to get a better grasp of but i dont know what i dont know

i guess i will start experimenting but the .gov website mentioned that we should talk to our lawyer before messing with it too much ? i'm not entering sensitive information so i dont see why that would be relavent
 

yimyammer

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this is the type of stuff i'd like to get a better grasp of but i dont know what i dont know

i guess i will start experimenting but the .gov website mentioned that we should talk to our lawyer before messing with it too much ? i'm not entering sensitive information so i dont see why that would be relavent

I would think as long as you don’t enter any risky info you’ll be fine

It’s really simple. I just talked to it like I want an attorney. I said I need a lease 12 months long. These are the terms make sure it includes XYNZ create a signature line with this person‘s name with my name a date, spot, blah, blah, blah, and bam out it came.
 

icup

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i've been messing with chat gpt but having a hard time uploading spreadsheets... even when changing them to csv files

ive only been successful with linking to a published goggle sheets page

i cant use this if i cant upload spreadsheets
 

Doomsday

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i've been messing with chat gpt but having a hard time uploading spreadsheets... even when changing them to csv files

ive only been successful with linking to a published goggle sheets page

i cant use this if i cant upload spreadsheets
I asked Google and its AI replied:
Screenshot_20251111-131747-558.png
 

Creeper

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My wife has used GROK to produce various business documents, like procedures, business continuity documents etc. She take what it produces and then uses it as a starting points. She says it's pretty good but usually needs some fine tuning and additional, more relevant details.
 

icup

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yeah, it seems really useful for writing emails, documents, memos, etc

i'm trying to have it analyze some stuff like with inventory management right now. it was a bitch to get it to read the data. i couldn't upload it for some reason (tried doing is as .xlsx and .csv)

the only way i got it to work was to make a new google sheet and copy and paste the link to chat gpt. it worked, but i wish i had a better way of getting it the information it needs.... i'll keep troubleshooting until i figure ito ut
 
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