AI in Business: Straight Talk on Common Questions
- sarahmitchell73
- Aug 5
- 4 min read
This post covers some of the questions we're asked most often by business leaders. What’s changing with AI? What should we be paying attention to? And how do we shift from casual use to something more strategic?
What actually is AI?
Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is software that's programmed to do things that typically require human intelligence, like recognising speech or driving a car autonomously.
You can think of AI like a digital brain, making decisions and solving problems based on the information it's given. AI can learn from experience, improving its tasks over time without being explicitly programmed for every scenario. The more data it gathers and the more problems it solves, the smarter it gets.
There are many different types of AI. Traditional AI and machine learning methods are often used to solve very targeted problems such as detecting spam or fraud, forecasting revenues, and recommending shows on Netflix.
Generative AI is little different. It's a form of AI that has broad general knowledge and can answer many different types of questions. Generative AI produces new content based on patterns it has learned. Tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Microsoft Copilot fall into this category, helping users generate text, code, summaries, and more.
How are businesses using AI today?
For nearly every organisation we talk to, AI is already part of their daily work - helping to draft emails, summarise meetings, create reports, or make sense of complex data. The value is in making common tasks easier, faster, and more consistent.
Across Kiwi businesses, we're often seeing AI being used to:
Draft internal comms, proposals, reports, and presentations.
Summarise documents, articles, board papers, and meeting notes.
Analyse data, trends, and customer feedback to support better decisions.
Support strategy, planning, product, and pricing decisions.
Automate repetitive workflows to speed up daily tasks.
Many leaders are finding that it doesn’t take a massive transformation to see results. Small, practical changes can lead to significant impacts over time.
“It’s not about creating artificial intelligence, but amplifying human intelligence.”
- Amber Case, American cyborg anthropologist
What's changing in the world of AI?
The pace of AI development has been relentless. In just the past two years, we’ve seen technical advances that many businesses will spend the next decade catching up to. Here’s what’s currently shifting:
Systems are becoming more connected
Generative AI is no longer just a tool you prompt in a chat window. It’s now built into platforms and connected across systems. AI agents, capable of handling multi-step tasks (somewhat) autonomously, are already being used to generate content, update records, schedule meetings, and trigger automated workflows. These capabilities open up real opportunities for process improvement, but also increase complexity and risk, especially when sensitive information is involved.
The shift from ad hoc to structured use
Many teams started their AI journey by experimenting with general purpose AI tools such as ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot. That curiosity yielded early efficiency gains. But now leaders are looking for more - more clarity, structure, and value. The focus is shifting to well-scoped use cases, supported teams, and practical guidance that builds confidence and reduces risk.
Scrutiny and expectations are increasing
Boards, customers, and regulators are asking tougher questions: How is AI being used? What data is it accessing? Who is responsible for the outcomes?
There’s growing pressure on organisations to take a more deliberate approach to AI - to move beyond casual use and put the right structures in place. That includes clear policies, defined boundaries, and building a shared understanding of what good AI use looks like across the business.
“Just as electricity transformed almost everything 100 years ago, today I actually have a hard time thinking of an industry that I don’t think AI will transform in the next several years.”
- Andrew Ng, Founder DeepLearning.AI
Will AI take my job?
AI is already changing the way we work. Tasks that once took hours now take minutes. That shift doesn’t just speed things up, it changes what’s expected from the people doing the work.
Almost every role that involves digital tasks will become AI-augmented. That brings new tools, new skills, and a different kind of responsibility. It means knowing when to trust the output, when to question it, and how to apply good judgment in between.
This shift isn’t something we can slow down. But we can support people to adapt with the right training, clear guidance, and time to build confidence as things evolve.
Why should I embrace AI?
If you're looking to stay ahead of the curve and keep your business competitive, then AI is absolutely your friend. AI offers a strategic advantage by enhancing operational efficiency, offering personalised customer experiences, and creating opportunities for new products and services.
“AI will be part of every industry, enhancing our abilities in ways we can’t even imagine yet.”
- Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon
How can we turn everyday use into real business value?
Most businesses aren’t starting from scratch. Your team is likely already using tools like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot to draft content, summarise notes, or speed up admin. The next step is moving from casual use to something more deliberate, supported, and structured.
That might include:
Mapping out where AI already fits into your workflows, and where it could be used more effectively.
Identifying specific use cases that solve real problems or reduce unnecessary effort.
Creating repeatable prompts, simple automations, or internal GPTs to support common tasks.
Putting an AI policy in place so people know what’s expected and where the boundaries are.
Offering targeted training to build capability and confidence across the team.
You don’t need a major rollout to start seeing value. With the right support and a bit of structure, you can quickly build momentum and turn scattered AI use into something that’s consistent, safe, and genuinely useful across your business.
This article was first published in April 2024 and then updated in August 2025 to reflect the latest changes in business use of AI.
Curious about using AI in your business? We're here to help. Anadyne IQ is a dedicated AI consultancy based in New Zealand. We offer practical training for teams and leaders, tailored AI policies, bespoke solutions, and independent advice on where and how to implement AI in a way that’s safe, strategic, and aligned with your goals. Not sure where to start? Our team is here to guide you through, step by step.
