AI for a Five-Person Business: Six Tasks Worth Testing Before Buying Software

Start with the problem, not the model A five-person business does not need an AI department to run a useful experiment. It needs one repetitive task that consumes staff time and can be evaluated for accuracy. Buying a subscription first and searching for a purpose afterwards reverses the investment decision.

Six useful experiments Try drafting first replies to common customer questions, turning meeting notes into action lists, summarising a non-confidential catalogue, classifying incoming support messages, preparing alternative marketing headlines and generating a checklist from an existing procedure. Begin with examples that contain no customer secrets, employee information or confidential prices.

Create a baseline Time the task without AI for one week. Note mistakes, rework and customer complaints. Then use a small controlled sample with human checking. Compare complete task time rather than just the seconds it takes to produce a draft. The apparent speed of generation can disappear if corrections are extensive.

Keep humans accountable AI output may invent policies, misunderstand local language or sound certain about an incorrect answer. Designate a person responsible for reviewing consequential material. Never treat generated legal advice, loan approvals or health decisions as automatically valid.

Know when to stop A test is successful only if the combined cost of licences, training, review and maintenance is lower than the measurable benefit or produces a meaningful quality improvement. If the experiment creates more confusion than value, stop. A useful technology budget has room for saying no.