Artificial Intelligence FAQs

The AI journey can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. We believe in starting small with practical applications that deliver immediate value. Rather than trying to revolutionise your entire workflow overnight, begin with simple tasks you already do daily like enhancing email replies, accelerating research, or creating content drafts. With the right guidance and a structured approach, you'll discover AI's power to amplify your existing expertise whilst building confidence through quick wins.

Like learning to drive a car we recommend starting with a single model like Chat GPT or Claude. You can register a free account. All you need is an email address and a password. Then start with a question, any question and prepare to dive into a conversation…

Think of AI as an incredibly well-read assistant that has studied millions of documents and conversations, then learned to predict helpful responses. It's sophisticated pattern recognition at massive scale, not magic. AI models are trained on vast amounts of text, learning how professionals communicate and solve problems. When you ask a question, AI predicts the most useful response based on these learned patterns. Understanding this helps to understand why providing adequate context to your enquiries is important to minimise errors and to set realistic expectations for what AI can achieve.

This is a legitimate concern that deserves a thoughtful response based on facts, not fear. Different AI tools handle data differently and understanding these differences helps you use AI safely whilst protecting sensitive information. The key is knowing what's appropriate to share and what isn't. With proper guidelines, like anonymising client details and using general scenarios instead of specific situations you can harness AI's benefits whilst maintaining professional standards and protecting confidential information through smart data practices. We recommend not uploading any company information you wouldn’t be comfortable putting online. See What should I never use AI for? below under practical usage.

The best AI tool depends on your specific requirements, but most business professionals should start with ChatGPT or Claude, both handle common business tasks well. ChatGPT offers broader recognition and extensive online help, whilst Claude excels at detailed analysis and professional writing. Microsoft Copilot integrates with Office 365 applications, though many users find standalone tools more capable for complex tasks. For research with current information, try Perplexity. Rather than overthinking the choice, start with one tool's free version, develop your prompting skills, then invest in the paid version of whichever becomes essential to your workflow. Skills transfer between tools.

Verification is essential for professional use. AI can be very confidently wrong, so never use outputs for important work without checking sources. Use a three-tier approach: basic sense-checking for every response, fact verification for any claims, and expert validation for critical decisions. Red flags requiring extra verification include specific statistics, legal requirements, financial calculations, and industry- specific details. Think of AI as providing excellent first drafts that require your professional expertise to finalise and validate. Most tools respond with links to citations when asked.

Absolutely. Success depends on how you integrate AI into your professional workflow, not whether you use it. Clients care about quality deliverables, reliability, and value, not your research methods or productivity tools. The professional approach positions AI as a capability enhancer that allows more thorough research and faster turnaround whilst maintaining high standards. Always review and refine AI outputs, verify facts independently, and take full responsibility for final deliverables. Focus on the enhanced value you can deliver with AI assistance.

This concern is understandable but often overblown. Most forward-thinking managers view AI as a professional tool, like Excel or Google. Progressive workplaces see AI skills as valuable professional development. Frame AI as enhancing your capabilities, not replacing them. Show how it allows you to deliver higher quality work faster whilst focusing on strategic tasks. Be transparent about your process, emphasising that your expertise guides and refines AI output. Position AI use as professional development and demonstrate enhanced value to your organisation.

It is very unlikely that AI is not being used in the business already. Often referred to as ‘Shadow AI’ – the covert use of AI tools at work is revealing in many AI surveys. Incorporating AI into the business should be open and needs support from leadership to legitimise its use, access to tools, and some education on what using AI responsibly requires. If you’re just starting out, we are open to have chat to help you understand and plan your AI journey.

AI will make mistakes, just like humans do, so having robust prevention and response strategies is essential. Prevent errors through three-source verification, peer review, and expert consultation. Never send AI-generated content without human review. When mistakes occur, acknowledge quickly, correct immediately, and implement process improvements. Build error-resilient systems through documentation protocols, clear escalation procedures, and regular training. Remember, you remain fully responsible for all work output regardless of AI assistance. Professional standards apply equally to AI-assisted work. Better yet establish an AI Policy for your business that clearly outlines to the do’s and don’ts and the what if scenarios so everyone’s clear.

Data security and privacy with AI tools requires understanding both technical realities and legal obligations. Treat AI tools like public forums until you understand their specific privacy protections. ChatGPT offers privacy controls, paid users can disable data use for model training in settings, whilst free users should assume conversations may be used for improvement. Claude generally doesn't use conversations for training and offers better default privacy protection. Never share client personal information, confidential business data, or security-sensitive information with any AI tool. Use anonymisation techniques, "Company A" instead of actual names, general scenarios rather than specific situations. Different service tiers offer varying privacy protections. Establish clear guidelines, use appropriate tools for different purposes, and create verification processes. Focus on safe practices that enable AI benefits whilst protecting sensitive information.

AI is more likely to change how you do your job than replace you entirely, especially in roles requiring human judgement, creativity, relationships, and complex problem- solving. Research shows AI typically automates tasks, not entire jobs. Most positions consist of multiple tasks, some AI can handle, others requiring human skills. Position yourself for an AI-enhanced future by developing "AI-resistant" skills like complex problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking. Become an "AI- enabled professional" who uses technology to deliver higher-value services whilst focusing human capabilities on uniquely human work.

Honestly, you may struggle to remain competitive in many fields. AI adoption is becoming a professional competency, similar to computer literacy in the 1990s. AI- enabled professionals show 50-70% faster research completion, enhanced quality and comprehensiveness, plus increased capacity for complex work. Competitive gaps are already appearing across industries. However, alternative strategies exist; specialised expertise, superior relationships, and creative innovation. The pragmatic approach suggests understanding AI capabilities helps you respond to market changes, even if you choose not to become a power user initially.