AI for Breakfast

Chris Witham • March 12, 2024

Post 56 - Using my custom built GPT


Today we are back to my custom GPT on OpenAI. Having adjusted the core prompts I think it's starting to create some useful content in a format I'm almost happy with. I think it will be a constant process of adjusting here and there and I also think I will most like ly end up using different AI tools depending on what I'm trying to achieve.


The aim here is to create content that will be useful in some way to my target market which is small business owners like myself.


If not anything else it will at the very least provide food for thought about how you might want to integrate AI tools into your business. If that's the case then all is well and if you need any help just let me know.


I do not proclaim to be an expert however I have been integrating and experimenting with AI for sometime now, and I have two AI platform paid accounts, so there's commitment!



Demystifying AI for SMEs: Practical strategies for harnessing its power

As a small business owner, you’ve likely heard about artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to transform industries. But amidst the jargon and the tech-speak, what does AI really mean for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)? Let’s break it down and explore some practical strategies to harness its power in your business.


Understanding AI in simple terms

At its core, AI involves using computer systems to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. This includes understanding natural language, recognising patterns, making decisions, and more. For SMEs, this means leveraging technology to do more, in less time, and often with greater accuracy.


Practical strategies for SMEs

Automate routine tasks: From scheduling meetings to sorting emails, AI-powered tools can automate a plethora of mundane tasks. This frees up valuable time for you and your team to focus on more strategic activities.


Improve customer service: AI chatbots can provide your customers with instant responses at any time of the day. They can handle a wide range of queries, improving customer satisfaction without the need for round-the-clock staff.


Enhance marketing efforts: AI can analyse data to predict customer behaviour and personalise marketing messages. This means more targeted campaigns that resonate with your audience and yield better returns on investment.


Streamline HR processes: AI can assist in sifting through applications to identify the most promising candidates, making the recruitment process more efficient and less biased.


Optimise inventory management: Predictive analytics powered by AI can forecast demand, helping you manage your stock levels more effectively and reduce overhead costs.


Getting started

Identify your needs: Begin by pinpointing areas in your business that could benefit from automation or enhanced efficiency.


Do your research: Look into AI solutions that fit your specific requirements. There are plenty of options designed with SMEs in mind.


Start small: Implement AI tools in phases. Starting small allows you to measure effectiveness and make adjustments as needed.


Facing challenges

While integrating AI can offer numerous benefits, it’s not without its challenges. These can include the costs of implementation, the need for training, and ensuring data privacy and security. However, with careful planning and the right support, these hurdles can be overcome.


In conclusion

AI is not just for tech giants. With the right approach and tools, small businesses can harness AI to improve efficiency, enhance customer service, and drive growth. It’s about making technology work for you, allowing you to focus on what you do best—running your business.


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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