How Businesses Can Use AI In The Workplace

AI is not just another tool- it is a fundamental shift in how work gets done in the business world. McKinsey & Company refers to the AI takeover as a "shift like the Industrial Revolution." AI is no longer emerging anymore, it is here and scaling fast. Some of the biggest businesses in the world are using it with powerful and large language models developed by Meta, Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic among many more. While the AI sector has grown quickly, only 1% of businesses say that their AI integration is "mature" (AI is fully integrated into daily workflows). This brings us to our first question:

If AI has gotten so large, why do businesses not integrate it?

Many businesses use AI in some form during the work day. According to hbr.org, this is a psychological pattern driven by industry-specific anxiety. The frustrations/anxiety stem from uncertainty about performance gains, ROI, and human leadership. Within these, humans fear that they will be replaced by artificial intelligence, (65% of those surveyed), fear that they will be seen as lacking unique value (61%), and feel it is making humans dumber (44%). With these reasons and studies, it is clear to deduce that there is angst around artificial intelligence and its use in the workplace, backing the reasons why businesses have not fully integrated it. With some of the foundation for why AI is not being used, this lays us into the next question:

What is the strategy behind using AI?

Since there is a worry about the lack of production with artificial intelligence, a question to be asked is how businesses are using it. Businesses are made to be adapted, not automated (hbr.org). Using AI for the main strategy and not as a tool can cause businesses to lose the keys to success on what brought them to where they are. Businesses need people to do the thinking for strategy! Only humans can identify human problems and criticize human capabilities that relate to the business! For example, AI can not use best judgment for the direction of your business, nor can it implement factors that identify human thinking, emotions, etc. AI can be used to recognize patterns in data, not replace your marketing manager and developers. This is a human leadership issue to address, not an AI strategy. When AI is used to replace humans, not augment them, you get inconsistent decision making and biases without oversight (d3.harvard.edu). When AI is used not for automation to boost productivity and focus for more important things, the core values and focus of the organization becomes generic and broad. Lastly, when we understand what the purpose of integrating AI into business, we can then understand how to plan for AI use. This leads us to the last point:

Where is the opportunity for businesses to use AI?

Here are 3 great ways that AI can be used to enhance business function.

1) Automating repetitive tasks

One of the simplest ways AI can help businesses is by handling repetitive, routine tasks that take up a lot of time. This includes things like entering data, processing invoices, scheduling meetings, or responding to basic customer questions. By letting AI take care of these chores, your team can focus on work that actually moves the business forward, such as building relationships, creating campaigns, or solving complex problems. It also reduces errors and speeds up operations, turning tasks that once took hours or days into work that can be done in minutes.

The biggest opportunities come when AI is applied in areas where human labor is costly or decisions need to be made quickly. For example, a chatbot can answer hundreds of customer inquiries at once, something no human team could manage efficiently. AI tools that scan, organize, and categorize documents save hours of tedious work, freeing employees to focus on higher-value tasks. Starting with automation gives businesses quick wins, showing the benefits of AI while setting the stage for more advanced uses in the future.

2) Enhancing decision making with data insights

AI can also help businesses make smarter, faster decisions. Every company generates huge amounts of data, from sales and customer behavior to market trends. Humans simply cannot process all this information quickly or consistently. AI can analyze it, detect patterns, and deliver insights that guide business strategy. This could mean predicting which customers are most likely to buy, spotting emerging trends, or finding the most efficient way to manage resources.

It is important to remember that AI is not meant to replace human judgment. It works best when it supports decision-making by providing evidence-based insights that humans can act on. For example, a sales team can prioritize the leads most likely to convert, and a marketing team can target campaigns more effectively. When humans and AI work together, decisions are faster, more accurate, and better informed, giving a business a real advantage over competitors who rely on instinct alone.

3) Driving new business models

AI is not only useful for efficiency; it can also help businesses innovate and create new opportunities. By analyzing customer feedback, market trends, and historical product data, AI can suggest improvements, new features, or even entirely new services. Companies can experiment quickly, test different ideas, and learn what works without committing large resources. This makes AI a powerful tool for developing products and services that truly meet customer needs.

AI can also help businesses rethink how they operate. Personalized experiences, recommendation engines, and AI-driven services allow companies to deliver what customers want, when they want it. Streaming platforms and e-commerce sites use AI to suggest content or products, keeping customers engaged and increasing revenue. When used strategically, AI can transform a business, helping it stand out in competitive markets and giving it advantages that are difficult for competitors to match.

In conclusion, AI is to be used as a tool- not a replacement for human thinking and willpower. With the proper use of AI in the workplace, your employees and leadership can focus on tasks that relate to strategy, creativity, and productivity- not tasks that are repetitive. The best way to begin to implement AI into your business is to start slowly! You do not have to overhaul all of your procedures and policies to introduce AI into your business. Start small, then figure out where it fits into your workflow, and go deeper into integration!