Generative AI may not yet meet the hype surrounding its performance, but its trajectory follows a familiar pattern of disruptive innovation. By serving overlooked segments and lowering the barrier to entry, AI is already transforming how work gets done—and can be particularly impactful small businesses and startups. Yet its broader impact depends on more than the tools themselves. True transformation requires rethinking workflows, redistributing knowledge, and developing new ways to capture value across the organization.

Many senior leaders and individuals hesitate to use generative AI due to skepticism, ethical concerns, and uncertainty. However, everyone needs to actively engage with these tools now. Personal experience is crucial to understanding AI's capabilities and limitations, address legitimate concerns about its impact, and shape its future development. Only by using generative AI can we navigate this technological shift effectively, mitigate potential harms, and ensure its benefits outweigh the costs.

Ready to explore what Generative AI can do for your business? This hands-on guide walks you through the essentials—what tools to use, how to prompt effectively, and where AI can make the biggest impact in your day-to-day work. From brainstorming and writing to planning and problem-solving, you’ll learn how to treat AI like a smart, capable teammate. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to sharpen your skills, this is your practical roadmap to working smarter with AI.

In today’s business landscape, small businesses face a daunting challenge: competing against well-funded, technology-driven corporate giants. For the average business owner, there are always too many challenges and priorities and never enough hours in your day or staff to deal with them.  However, recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI), particularly Generative AI, are opening up opportunities and capabilities that were once inconceivable.