My Limits with Artificial Intelligence in Business
It's easy to be swept up in the promise of AI as a panacea for all business challenges. In the world of technology and entrepreneurship, I've come to a crucial realization: AI, while incredibly powerful, is not a substitute for human experience.
The Two Pillars of Business: Acquisition and Fulfillment
At its core, business revolves around two primary functions: customer acquisition and fulfillment. My expertise lies in the latter - specifically, in leveraging code as the most scalable way to deliver promised services. In this domain, I can manage AI towards guaranteed outcomes. However, the realm of customer acquisition - encompassing marketing and sales - presents a different set of challenges.
The Limitations of AI in Uncharted Territory
As I venture into the world of marketing and sales, I've found that working with AI is informative and can definitely accelerate the learning process. However, it lacks the assurance that comes from years of hands-on experience -- this is the part that I needed to provide. It is hard to guarantee an outcome I have not guaranteed before.
Consider this: while there are tools like GitHub Copilot or Cursor/Replit for coding, equivalent game-changers for customer acquisition are still emerging. HubSpot's recently announced Breeze platform shows promise, but the field is still in its infancy.
The Missing Link: Specialized AI for Marketing and Sales
The absence of AI models trained specifically for marketing and sales highlights a significant still surprises me. While generating high-level plans and asking AI for detailed strategies is possible, the rubber doesn't always meet the road in practical application.
This gap is noticeable in critical areas like optimizing landing pages and ad creatives. Tech giants like Facebook and Google will eventually dominate this with the data they have. The lack of existing models for these tasks suggests there's more nuance to the process than meets the eye.
The Evolving Landscape of SEO and AI
A great insights from Lenny's Podcast featuring SEO expert Eli Schwartz shed light on how AI is reshaping the field of SEO. There are huge disruptions here to the space. As large language models increasingly dominate top-of-funnel awareness, SEO strategies are shifting towards middle and bottom-of-funnel content. This evolution presents both challenges and opportunities for businesses adapting to the AI era. The podcast is worth a listen.
Embracing AI While Recognizing Its Limits
It's crucial to remember that AI is a tool. It offers intelligence on demand, but it's not a replacement for the guarantee that comes from experience. When you're unable to hire someone for a specific outcome, relying solely on AI will still present challenges.
Moving forward, the key lies in striking a balance. We must leverage AI's strengths while recognizing its limitations. For areas outside our expertise, partnering with seasoned professionals who can effectively manage and direct AI tools towards concrete outcomes remains invaluable.
In conclusion, as AI continues to reshape the business landscape, our success will depend on our ability to blend artificial intelligence with human expertise. By doing so, we can harness the full potential of AI while ensuring that our strategies are grounded in real-world experience and domain-specific knowledge.
Are you leveraging AI in your marketing and sales efforts, particularly for SaaS products? I'd love to hear about your experiences and insights.