Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a luxury reserved for large businesses. In this episode of Small Business ShowIntellibus founder and principal, Ed Watal shares how small businesses adapt AI and how they adapt the risks left behind.
First, Watal begins the conversation by clarifying terms that often overwhelm small business owners. He says that at the heart of that, AI is quickly becoming a new face. Through his company Intellibus, which specializes in platform engineering, Watal helps organizations assess technology readiness with their own metric: AI power scores.
This score, ranging from 0 to 100, is designed to show how appropriate the business is to effectively utilize AI. It consists of three components.
Quality and availability of technology platform stability and data model potential– Ability to quickly adapt to change
“The more you get closer to zero, the more you’re ready,” warned Watal, noting that most companies are just beginning to go through the scoring process. He likened the AI power score to the S&P index for Tech preparation, giving companies a way to benchmark their competitive attitude in AI races.
Additionally, Watal encourages small businesses to take seriously whether AI can completely disrupt the industry. If the answer is yes, you may need to rethink your business model. He provided examples of $30 million companies that may not be able to afford a dedicated AI team, but can level the arena by accessing powerful tools like ChatGpt.
When it comes to scaling, Watal emphasizes automating repetitive tasks such as data entry, invoice processing, and even basic customer service. Thanks to AI, what once required expensive software is now widely accessible for little or no cost. However, we paid attention to marketing and outbound communication, as AI responses may have different effects across audiences.
Additionally, Watal touched on the ethical aspects of AI and the importance of digital governance. He cited his involvement in non-commercial initiatives like WDG.org, which advocates for guardrails that protect digital identity and prevent the misuse of AI-generated portraits. “Who owns you digitally?” he asked the question “very close to digital slavery.”
Ultimately, Watal urged business owners to identify and empower tech-savvy individuals already on their team.
“It’s time to bring (tech-friendly employees) to the forefront. Give us a seat at the table. – Edwater
