AI for Breakfast

Chris Witham • February 22, 2024

Post 37 - Why small business owners should consider implementing a custom AI chatbot


This post is via an AI platform called Wand, slightly different tone, my prompt was as follows:

You are a marketing expert, who understands good SEO practices. I'd like a blog post highlighting the advantages of implementing a custom AI Chatbot for small business owners. Please use British English in a conversational tone


This wasn't using my custom prompt from OpenAi but it does have some custom instructions from me by default.

One pattern I am starting to notice, all these conversational AI Chatbots like starting with very similar intro paragraphs, it's a bit of a giveaway I think. I’m going to try and educate my custom GPT to not do this in the future!


Anyway, once again I think the content provides some useful insights. If you’d like to have a chat about implementing your own AI Chatbot please feel free to get in touch and we can discuss further.


In the bustling digital marketplace, small business owners are always on the lookout for tools that can give them an edge. One such tool that's been making waves is the custom AI chatbot. It's like having a tireless member of staff who's always ready to engage with customers, answer queries, and even close sales – all without needing a break!


Always on duty

Imagine having a customer service representative who works 24/7, doesn't ask for holidays, and never gets tired. That's your AI chatbot. It can handle inquiries at any time of the day or night, ensuring that your customers feel heard and valued, even when you're catching some well-deserved z's.


Personalised interactions

Custom AI chatbots are clever little things. They can learn from interactions and provide personalised responses, making your customers feel like they're chatting with someone who really knows their stuff. This personal touch can be a game-changer in building customer loyalty.


Cost-effective

Hiring staff can be expensive, especially for a small business. Chatbots, on the other hand, can be a one-time investment that keeps on giving. They can manage multiple conversations at once, which means you won't need to hire a big team to keep up with customer queries.


Insights and analytics

These bots are not just about chatting. They're also a goldmine of data. By analysing conversations, they can provide insights into customer behaviour and preferences. This information can be invaluable when you're planning your next big move.


Streamlined operations

From booking appointments to processing orders, AI chatbots can handle a variety of tasks that would otherwise eat into your time. By automating these processes, you can focus on the bigger picture and grow your business.


So, there you have it. A custom AI chatbot could be the trusty sidekick you didn't know you needed. It's an investment that can improve customer satisfaction, save you money, and provide valuable insights. For small business owners looking to make a big impact, it's definitely worth a look.

Lines of colorful computer code on a dark background.
By Chris Witham December 11, 2025
Where AI really helps your Business If you spend any time on LinkedIn or X, you’ll have seen bold claims about how AI can help you build software in a matter of days. There’s a lot of excitement, a lot of big promises, and a fair bit of confusion for business owners trying to work out what’s real. A new term doing the rounds is “Vibe Coding” —the idea of describing what you want to an AI assistant and having it generate the code for you. It’s becoming popular because it can move things forward quickly and help people explore ideas they wouldn’t have been able to create alone. And the truth is, it does have its place. The challenge isn’t the technique. It’s the expectation that AI will automatically deliver finished, reliable, production-ready tools without any real design or thinking behind them. AI accelerates the work you already do well Used properly, AI can: • Remove huge amounts of repetitive work • Speed up drafting and iteration • Generate working prototypes in hours • Help non-technical people explore ideas • Improve documentation, planning and communication This is where it shines. But it still needs clarity, structure, and well-designed processes around it. It’s like having a very fast assistant rather than a fully formed development team. Why many AI projects don’t deliver what people expect Independent research this year showed a clear pattern: • Many early AI initiatives failed to produce measurable business value • Companies abandoned AI ideas because they couldn’t scale or integrate them • The gap between an impressive demo and a reliable tool is larger than people thought This doesn’t mean AI is overhyped. It means teams jumped straight to execution without the groundwork. The technology isn’t the issue. It’s the approach. Small businesses don’t need Enterprise Platforms Most UK small businesses don’t need to build a full software product. What they actually need is: • Better workflows • Faster content generation • Clearer communication • Improved customer support • Tools that reflect the way they work • Consistency and repeatability AI is perfect for this. A custom GPT trained on your tone, your documents and your processes can become: • A writing assistant • A customer support helper • A knowledge base navigator • An internal guide for staff • A quality-control layer • A process automator No engineering team needed. No complex infrastructure. No stress. Where AI builds real value right now AI works best when it’s part of a thoughtful, guided approach: • Define the outcome you want • Build a lightweight prototype (AI helps here) • Add structure, rules and guardrails • Connect it to your real workflow • Test it with real users or staff • Iterate until it feels natural You can still move fast. You just avoid building something brittle that breaks the moment it’s needed. The key insight: AI doesn’t replace expertise, it amplifies it AI is at its strongest when someone knowledgeable decides: • What it should do • What it shouldn’t do • How it should behave • What tone it should use • How it fits into the business • What checks and constraints matter That’s where tools like custom GPTs genuinely shine. They’re not software products in the traditional sense. They’re flexible assistants shaped around your business. With the right design, they can save huge amounts of time and deliver consistent, practical value without any of the complexity of building a full system. A more useful way to think about AI in 2026 Instead of “AI will build everything for you”, a healthier mindset is: AI speeds up the work, but you set the direction. For small businesses, that’s more than enough to make a real difference.
By Chris Witham August 21, 2025
Website Planet Interview
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WORD: Ineffable DEFINITION: Too great or extreme to be expressed in words. USAGE: 'The beauty of the sunrise was ineffable, leaving everyone speechless.' ORIGIN: From the Latin 'ineffabilis,' meaning 'unutterable,' often used to describe profound experiences.
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IDIOM OF THE DAY: Spill the beans FIGURATIVE MEANING: To reveal a secret. TYPICAL USAGE: 'She spilled the beans about the surprise party.' ORIGIN: Likely derived from voting practices in ancient Greece where beans were used, and spilling them prematurely could reveal results.
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