5 Ways AI is Transforming Business

Like most people, my first real experience with AI was when ChatGPT was launched in 2022. At first, I was simply amazed by the wealth of knowledge it could provide. However, I soon realized that the true power of AI for entrepreneurs wasn’t in accessing information but in how its capabilities could be applied across multiple use cases. The potential wasn’t just exciting — it felt limitless.

Over the last few years, I’ve watched AI live up to that potential, and its impact on business is undeniable. Nearly 70% of CEOs predict that AI will drive competition, reshape business models, and require new skills from the workforce.

In this post, I’ll dive into how AI is changing the game for entrepreneurs and why it’s no longer just a nice-to-have but a must-have tool for staying competitive.

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AI and Entrepreneurship

It’s hard to overstate how much AI has reshaped the entrepreneurship landscape.

When I think about the barriers that once made starting a business so challenging — limited resources, lack of specialized skills, or the sheer scale of effort needed — it’s clear that AI has changed the rules of the game.

For instance, generative AI and other technologies now have the potential to automate work activities that currently absorb 60 to 70 percent of employees’ time. What used to require large teams, deep pockets, or years of expertise can now often be achieved with the right AI tools and a willingness to learn.

I’ve seen this firsthand in my work. I’m always working on new ideas, so I’m constantly stepping into areas where I don’t have much expertise. AI has been my go-to in those moments. Whether it’s troubleshooting code for a small project, refining my thoughts while writing blog posts, or building strategies and challenging my thinking when exploring new business opportunities, AI has allowed me to bridge gaps I wouldn’t have been able to overcome otherwise.

What really excites me about AI, though, is its flexibility. It’s not one-size-fits-all. Depending on how you approach it, AI can be your silent partner in the background or take on a central role, driving innovation and strategy.

Whether you’re just starting with an idea, refining a product, scaling operations, or exploring new markets, AI can provide significant value at every stage.

McKinsey’s recent research shows that about 75% of the value generative AI delivers is concentrated in four key areas: customer operations, marketing and sales, software engineering, and R&D — some of the most critical aspects of building and running a successful business.

This likely explains why a 2023 study by Gartner found that generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) was the number one type of AI solution deployed in organizations.

Another Gartner survey also revealed that 79% of corporate strategists believe technologies such as AI, analytics, and automation will be critical to their success over the next two years.

This rapid adoption and increasing reliance on AI is a clear sign of AI’s growing importance in building and running modern businesses.

It also raises some important concerns.

As AI becomes more embedded in entrepreneurship, aren’t entrepreneurs at risk of over-relying on it? And exactly when does reliance turn into over-reliance?

Well, while I think it’s clear AI is an incredible enabler, it’s important to remember that it’s still a tool: it can’t replace the creativity, empathy, and strategic thinking that make entrepreneurs successful. This is why finding the sweet spot and understanding how to leverage AI for specific use cases is quickly becoming one of the most critical skills for the modern-day entrepreneur.

How Entrepreneurs Are Using AI

AI is actively reshaping how businesses operate.

In this section, I’ll dive into five practical ways entrepreneurs use AI in their businesses. I’ll also share real-world examples and AI tools that highlight how powerful AI can be when integrated into your business.

1. To Add Insight to Data Analysis and Interpretation

In today’s digital landscape, data is everywhere — CRMs, email platforms, analytics tools, etc. While gathering this data is important, I’ve found that the secret sauce is in analysis and interpretation.

This is where AI comes in.

AI-powered business intelligence tools bring a level of sophistication to data analysis that was once unimaginable. Unlike traditional business intelligence, these tools don’t just collect data—they can now understand, contextualize, and apply insights.

One of my favorite applications is through predictive analysis.

As renowned computer scientist Andrew Ng explains, “AI systems are good at spotting patterns when given access to the right data.” By processing current and historical data, AI can identify trends and forecast future outcomes.

For example, Domo.ai, a data analysis solution, offers a chat platform where users can ask questions, and their AI analyzes the data to provide contextual, personalized predictions — all in natural language. These predictions can range from projected product demand to forecasts of returning customers.

Features like these are crucial for accurate decision-making because missteps in these areas could lead to severe consequences like customer churn and wasted resources.

2. To Streamline (and Democratize) Software Development

Just a few years ago, if you didn’t know how to code or didn’t have the budget to hire a developer, your ideas often remained just that — ideas. The world of software development seemed closed off to anyone without technical skills or resources.

But now, AI has completely flipped the script. It’s broken down those barriers, enabling entrepreneurs — regardless of their technical background — to bring their ideas to life.

AI tools like ChatGPT and Github Copilot allow anyone to generate fully functional code from scratch by simply feeding in prompts.

This has been a game-changer for non-technical creators like myself. GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke calls it, “the most profound breakthrough in technology since the genesis of software development itself.”

But even for technical founders and developers, AI is a valuable tool for streamlining development. For instance, tools like Workik automate code migration between different technologies, while BrowserStack uses AI to make automated testing more efficient.

Ultimately, whether you’re a non-technical entrepreneur or an experienced developer, AI opens up new possibilities for building software products.

3. To Transform Their Approach to Marketing

After nearly six years in marketing, I’ve witnessed the industry undergo countless shifts. But nothing has been as monumental — or potentially disruptive — as AI. It’s fundamentally changed how we approach marketing, from creation to delivery and even optimization.

One area where AI really shines is content creation. Tools like Claude and Copy.ai help generate blog posts, social media copy, product descriptions, and more at a speed and quality that once required entire teams.

Similarly, AI tools like MidJourney have transformed how we create media assets. As someone without a design background, being able to generate high-quality images and graphics with just a few prompts has completely changed the scope of what I can create and how I approach my work.

But AI’s impact doesn’t stop at creation — it’s reshaping marketing strategy, delivery, and optimization. Tools that pull insights from customer behavior, market trends, and historical data help craft more data-driven and targeted marketing plans. I also often find myself using generative AI to brainstorm and stress-test my ideas.

Finally, once campaigns are live, AI can work behind the scenes to optimize performance. Many marketing tools now have built-in AI features that analyze data in real time, adjusting elements like email subject lines, ad spend, and content distribution to ensure campaigns run as efficiently as possible.

Interestingly, Jessica Apotheker, Boston Consulting Group’s global CMO, believes the future of AI in marketing should increasingly focus on these data-driven applications rather than creative functions.

As she explains, “We need to reskill and reorganize to embed people who can build and use predictive AI tools at the core of decision-making in marketing. This means developing teams of marketing data scientists and engineers who create solutions to analyze performance.”

4. To Assist and Refine Sales Processes

According to former Outreach.io CEO Manny Medina, “In the future, there will be no sales representative or manager that doesn’t have an AI supporting their work.”

This rings especially true when you consider the sheer volume of data points that come into play when closing deals, especially at scale.

Salespeople have to juggle personalization, relevance, and timing, all of which can be the deciding factors between a “yes” and a “no.” And this makes sales one of the industries where AI can have the most significant impact.

How AI tools are changing the sales world

Take HubSpot’s AI, Breeze, for example.

Breeze’s “guided selling” feature helps reps close deals faster by automatically identifying and prioritizing the best leads. It even suggests “next steps” for leads at various pipeline stages, allowing salespeople to focus on the most promising opportunities and reduce time spent on less qualified leads.

Beyond Breeze, several other AI tools enhance and streamline the sales process in unique ways. Conversica uses language models to create personalized outreach messages and engage in conversations with leads. Asgard helps identify companies most likely to purchase your products, while Gong analyzes sales calls to develop personalized coaching plans for reps, helping them improve performance.

With so many AI-powered tools, your sales teams can leverage technology to enhance their processes and redefine what’s possible in sales performance.

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5. To Boost Efficiency and Satisfaction in Customer Support

According to a recent HubSpot study, 85% of service leaders believe AI will completely transform the customer’s experience with their company.

I agree with this sentiment because the last decade alone has introduced numerous AI-powered customer support channels, tools, and strategies. Today, there are countless use cases for AI in customer support.

Chatbots and virtual assistants, powered by natural language processing (NLP) technologies, allow companies to provide 24/7 on-demand customer support. AI tools can also pull relevant data from past interactions, purchase history, and customer preferences to create personalized experiences during these support interactions.

But AI can even go beyond direct customer interactions to help improve the efficiency of support teams.

For example, AI can support customer service reps by providing contextually relevant data during complex customer queries. It can also help build and maintain knowledge bases using real-time customer queries and corresponding solutions.

The possible applications are endless. Agata Rogińska, support team leader at Text, predicts that as AI in customer support progresses, “human agents and AI will complement each other in a way that AI will cover some repetitive tasks and boost efficiency. It will support human agents with additional data, which will help them to focus on more complex issues, building relationships and handling sensitive, emotional scenarios.”

A New Era for Entrepreneurship

There’s never been a better time to be an entrepreneur. AI removes so many obstacles and levels the playing field, allowing you, as an entrepreneur, to innovate and compete. Using AI, you can move faster, make smarter decisions, and focus on what really matters: building a great product.