Let’s be honest: “artificial intelligence” sounds like a big, intimidating tech term. But AI is quickly becoming a practical, everyday tool for small businesses, nonprofits, and organizations just like yours.

This summer, our intern Kyan Offutt ran a Lunch & Learn session all about it. Here’s the quick-and-easy version of what he shared: what AI actually is, how local businesses are already using it, and how you can start using it tomorrow.

So… What Is AI, Really?

Strip away the jargon, and AI is simply computer systems that can do tasks that normally take human thinking.

That’s it.

Think of it like a calculator or a search engine: a tool that helps you do familiar work, just faster.

Don’t Worry — AI Isn’t Coming for Your Job

One of the biggest myths out there is that AI is going to replace people. In reality, it’s much more like a helpful assistant than a replacement.

AI is Great At:

• Saving you hours every week
• Brainstorming ideas
• Writing first drafts
• Organizing information
• Cranking out marketing content faster
• Taking repetitive tasks off your plate

AI can’t:

• Replace your presence or judgment
• Know your customers
• Understand your business
• Build relationships

What This Looked Like in Real Life

Over the summer, Kyan put AI to work on real projects, like drafting more than 50 social media posts, researching tourism ideas, brainstorming grant opportunities, planning workforce recruitment, building presentations, improving SEO, and promoting events.

And through it all, he stayed fully in control of the final product.

“AI never did the work. It helped the work get done faster, and helped the thinking get bigger.” — Kyan Offutt

AI Knows Information. You Know Your Business.

Here’s the key thing to remember: AI has access to a massive pool of general knowledge, but it has no idea who your customers are, what makes your community tick, or what your products and personality bring to the table.

The magic happens when you combine what AI knows with what you know.

A real example: Kyan used AI to review the Discover Mitchell County website. In minutes, it flagged missing pictures, SEO opportunities, confusing pages, and gaps in information; plus suggestions for organizing content better. What would’ve taken hours of manual review became a fast, useful second opinion.

The Bottom Line

“AI won’t replace your job, but people who can efficiently use AI will.”

AI isn’t about replacing the people who run our local businesses. It’s about giving you back time to focus on what actually needs a human touch: your customers, your community, and your hard-earned expertise.

The businesses experimenting with these tools now will be the ones ahead of the curve as AI keeps becoming part of everyday work.

Ready to Get Started?

Have questions about bringing AI into your business? Reach out to Mandy Fincham, Business Support Director. She’d love to help!

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