AI questions

13 questions · The ones owners actually ask · Plain language, no jargon

Short, honest answers to the questions that come up before the big decisions: what it costs, which tool to pick, whether it's safe, and how to tell if any of it is working. Every answer links to the longer version if you want it.

What does AI for a small business actually cost?

Free tools that genuinely work, the $20–100 a month middle tier, and what a scoped $500–$25k project actually buys you.

Which AI tool should I use?

The one that fixes your most annoying task — start free, test it for two weeks, and pay only when it earns its keep.

How do I get better results from AI?

Give it context, say exactly what you want, and treat the first result as a draft you refine — not as finished work.

Can AI work with the software I already use?

Usually yes — most tools plug into your CRM, bookkeeping, or email, and the catch is where the gaps need a careful setup.

What's the difference between free and paid AI tools?

Free tools are genuinely useful for drafting — you pay when you need privacy, volume, or a guarantee your data stays yours.

How do I train my team to use AI?

Don't roll it out to everyone at once — pilot it with one person, write down what works, and add one tool at a time.

Does AI watermark the text it gives me?

Gemini and Claude's newest models mark their text invisibly; ChatGPT doesn't — and you can't check the mark yourself.

Can I trust AI agents to work on their own?

An agent that sends, books, or pays needs a human on the risky steps — here's where agents get tricked, and how much rope to give.

Are my employees already using AI without me knowing?

Probably yes — 54% of owners say staff use public AI chatbots for work. Plan for it instead of policing it: amnesty, one approved tool, a never-list.

How do I show up when customers search with AI?

Assistants quote pages, not profiles — answer the exact questions customers ask, in plain language, on a site you own.

What are the rules about using AI in my business?

No single US AI law — but the privacy and confidentiality rules you already follow still apply, and a 15-minute kit keeps you ahead of the state patchwork.

Will AI make my business feel robotic to customers?

Only if you hand it the parts customers value from you — AI drafts, you decide. "Drafted with AI, checked by me" beats hiding it.

How do I know if AI is actually working?

Pick one number before you start and compare 30 days on against 30 days off. No change after a month: fix it or drop it.

Ready for the longer version of any of these? The guides walk through the big decisions step by step, the tool reviews show how each major tool handles your data and where it fails, and the glossary defines every term in one sentence.

I'm David. I build AI that keeps your data yours.

Twenty years building software for businesses like yours — cloud tools when they fit, your own machines when the data demands it. Four ways to work together: a session, a scoped project, a standing second opinion, or just an email.

Work with David

"Most companies are selling you fear and complexity. He cuts through the bullshit and just fixes things. That's what partnership looks like."

Jim · Owner, media production company · more testimonials