5 Ways to Use Generative AI for Your Small Business

Generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) is a fast-growing type of artificial intelligence that is already changing how people work. One Gen AI technology application you’ve probably heard of is ChatGPT. Gen AI applications like this can help independent workers become more effective and efficient by helping with tasks that are repetitive or mundane.

And according to our latest research, more than one-third of independent workers report that they are already using Gen AI in their work. More than half of surveyed workers said that Gen AI was extremely useful and helped improve their productivity. Almost all—97%—of current Gen AI users say they will continue to use Gen AI in the future, and 62% of those not using it yet say they plan to use it in the next two years. Can you envision using Gen AI in your business? Here are five ways independents report using Gen AI today.

Research and Writing

No matter what industry your independent business is focused on, chances are that your job involves some sort of research and writing. Gen AI can help with these tasks by doing things like quickly research a topic, create an outline for an article, or even format deliverables. It can easily spellcheck content or generate ideas for a blog or newsletter. Thirty-nine percent of independents say they use Gen AI for tasks like these.

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Coding and Programming

Coding and programming is another area where Gen AI can be a big help. Many programmers use Gen AI coding assistants to help them write code and debug. Coding assistants can code in many different programming languages using basic prompts.

Creative Content and Presentations

If you’ve ever had to present to a client, you’re familiar with the number of hours of work that go into making a creative and engaging presentation. Gen AI can help here by producing graphics, designs, or original images. This can greatly reduce the time it takes to produce visual content by hand. Almost one-third of independents say they have used Gen AI for creative applications.

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Marketing

There are many applications for Gen AI tools in marketing. When you run your own business, you’re responsible for finding clients—and that means you need to sell your services. Whether your marketing strategy takes the form of creating content on your professional website, running a blog, sending out email campaigns, or having a robust social media presence, Gen AI can help.

AI tools can give you information about what type of marketing will speak best to your target audience, write copy or generate ideas for content marketing, and even run campaigns for you. About one-quarter of independents say they use Gen AI for marketing.

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Administrative Tasks

Running your back office is one of the most time-consuming tasks you’ll encounter as an independent. Of course, Gen AI can help here too. Administrative tasks like generating contracts, scheduling meetings, or reviewing a proposal are just a few ideas of how AI can help. Other tasks that can be automated include bookkeeping, scheduling meetings, transferring data, or sending invoices.

Over half of independents say that Gen AI is extremely useful in running their business. Many report that it helps them save time and improve productivity. If you’re looking for ways to get started using these tools, try experimenting with a few different options. Start small by automating a few tasks or generating content ideas to get a feel for what will work best for you.

To learn more about the impact of Gen AI on the independent workforce, check out our latest report.