Did you know only 1.4% of all firms in Australia are officially using AI? Yet looking at larger firms with 200+ staff members, there’s a much bigger 9.5% take-up, according to research from Deloitte and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA).
Further CBA findings showed more than half (56%) of small and medium-sized enterprises believe investing in AI is crucial for business growth. But 80% of them face barriers when adopting or further investing in the tech. For 28%, a lack of understanding is a big challenge.
IT Brief Australia recently took a deep dive into these stats, consulting with Rebecca Hegeman, an AI expert at Localsearch on how smaller companies can use AI effectively.
Invest time
“To set yourself up for success, spend at least 10 hours familiarising yourself with the AI platform. It might sound like a large chunk of time, but this first step allows you to get acquainted with the AI and see what it’s capable of,” advises Rebecca. First steps? Use ChatGPT to build a recipe, a meal plan and a shopping list.
Invest in upgrades
Rebecca recommends small businesses opt for the paid version of ChatGPT: “While the free version is powerful, the paid version is hyper-intelligent and can act like a personal assistant, making it an investment that pays for itself. ChatGPT can help with overcoming blank page syndrome, managing communications, and even responding to tough emails.”
Take a look at Claude
If content creation is part of your EA role, Rebecca suggests downloading Claude: “Claude offers a different personality and approach compared to ChatGPT. I would recommend starting with the free version and if you find it useful, consider upgrading to the paid version for more intelligent and nuanced content creation.”
Remember to provide context
Rebecca compares this to briefing an intern: “Start by clearly stating the nature of your work, what your company does, and the purpose of the task. For example, explain that you’re creating marketing content for a small business in Australia, aiming to engage local customers.” From here, keep going with specific instructions – the type of content you need, how many words and whether it should use Australian English.
Review everything AI-generated
“Just because AI wrote it, doesn’t mean it’s perfect. These tools can sometimes waffle and repeat themselves, so it’s important to edit the content to make sure it’s engaging and to the point,” says Rebecca. Don’t forget to double-check your facts, figures and details, too, to make sure you keep your readers’ trust.
