Is AI Helping or Hijacking Your Business?
The AI hype train is full steam ahead. Every day, there’s a shiny new tool or feature promising to save us hours, write our blog posts, generate client proposals, and even write podcast show notes. And for those of us running solo or small service-based businesses, the promise of “saving time” can feel really seductive.
But here’s the question that’s been on my mind, and maybe yours too: Can we use AI to support our businesses without losing our voice, values, and integrity that makes us human in the first place?
That’s precisely what I set out to explore in a brand-new AI series on my podcast, The Brassy Broadcast. I’m talking with people who are thinking deeply about the intersection of AI, creativity, and our businesses. We’re asking better questions—not just “How can I use this tool?” but “Should I? When? And how do I do it without turning into a robot with a Canva account?”
AI for Solo Business Owners
To kick things off, I sat down with Maggie Patterson—founder of BS Free Business, host of The Staying Solo Podcast, and a fellow business owner who’s been thinking critically about AI for a while. I had so many questions as a solo business owner and content creator.
It’s Not Just About What AI *Can* Do
One of the biggest takeaways from our conversation was just because AI can do something doesn’t mean you should let it.
We talked about how tempting it is to hand over entire creative tasks—like writing and scripting podcasts, especially when you’re short on time or running on fumes. But Maggie made a crucial point: when you let the tool drive too much of the process, it starts to water down the thing that makes your work yours.
“You still need a human on either end,” Maggie said. “One to shape the input, and one to edit and refine the output.”
That stuck with me. It’s not about rejecting AI. It’s about collaborating with it. Using it as a support system, not a crutch. A sounding board, not a ghostwriter.
Did You Know There is an Environmental Cost of Using AI?
Confession time: Before this conversation, I hadn’t given much thought to the environmental impact of AI.
Turns out AI doesn’t run on fairy dust.
Data centers are energy-intensive and require liquid cooling systems to prevent servers from overheating. And as the demand for AI tools skyrockets, so does the environmental footprint.
Now, am I saying, “Don’t use AI”? No. But being aware of the broader impact is part of using these tools with integrity. It’s like composting for your digital life. You don’t have to be perfect, but you need to be thoughtful.
Know the Terms. And Read Them.
What about client privacy and the ethical use of AI when you’re working on someone else’s content or data?
Maggie and I talked about the importance of disclosing how you use AI in your contracts and being transparent with clients about where you’re using it in the process.
Even something as simple as: “I use AI to summarize podcast transcripts and generate draft show notes, but I always review and rewrite them before final delivery.”
That level of transparency helps build trust.
AI Is Already in Tools You’re Using—Even If You Haven’t Noticed
Grammarly? AI. Notion? AI. Your project management software? Probably AI. Google Docs? Gemini is watching.
The truth is, AI isn’t new; It’s just louder. And a lot of us were already using it without realizing it.
That’s why understanding AI’s role in your workflow is so important. Whether you’re using it for brainstorming, outlining, time tracking, or copy polishing, you want to be in the driver’s seat. Not the passenger holding on for dear life.
It’s Okay to Take It Slow
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of AI tools, prompts, opinions, and think pieces floating around right now, you’re not alone. I’m right there with you.
That’s actually what inspired this whole series: I didn’t want a tutorial. I wanted a conversation. One where we could ask better questions, embrace the nuance, and figure it out as we go.
So if you’re in that “It’s complicated” relationship stage with your feelings and use of AI, here are some thoughts:
- Start small. Use AI in a part of your workflow that already feels clunky or repetitive.
- Be clear about where the tool ends and you begin.
- Don’t let the fear of “doing it wrong” stop you from experimenting.
Integrity Over Hype
AI is a tool. Like any tool, it’s only as good as the person using it. You have to train it.
So whether you’re drafting a podcast outline, brainstorming blog titles, or asking it to make you sound “nicer” in an e-mail, the question to keep asking is: Does this help me show up more clearly, concisely, and honestly in my work?
If the answer is yes, great. If not, it might be time to pause and reassess.
AI Tools Mentioned in the Episode
– ChatGPT – Great for brainstorming, organizing thoughts, editing drafts
– Grammarly – Polishes tone, checks grammar, and includes a plagiarism checker
– Perplexity – An AI-powered search tool that cites sources
– Otter.ai – For transcription; decent accuracy, but still needs a human review pass
– Descript – Audio and video editing with AI-powered transcript features
– Clockify / Timely – Time tracking tools with built-in AI analysis
– Notion AI – Useful for drafting and structuring ideas inside your existing Notion setup
Bonus reminder: Always check your tool’s privacy settings—especially when using client data.
**AI Disclosure: I fed this episode transcript into ChatGPT. It created my show notes, email, and blog post from the transcript. I still had to do some polishing, but it was a big time saver. It’s learning my voice and writing style. Training it is part of the process. Image created by ChatGPT.
Where are you using AI in your workflow for content creation? I would love to hear from you. DM on LinkedIn or on Instagram @brassybroadjen.
