Does it sometimes feel like everyone you talk to describes themselves as an ‘AI expert’? You’re not alone. These ‘experts’ are everywhere right now, but are they really as experienced as they say they are? The problem is that many of them have simply spent a few weekends playing around with ChatGPT and decided they're qualified to advise businesses on AI strategy. Spoiler: they aren't.
Plenty of these ‘experts’ – who’ll promise you they only have your best interests at heart – make money from selling software and licences. If that's how they get paid, it's hardly surprising that they’re out there recommending anything and everything, regardless of whether you really need it.
But here’s the thing. Everyone seems to be going down the AI route. It’s exciting. It’s all shiny and new. And although you’re questioning these ‘experts’ in the back of your mind, you’re also wondering whether you’re missing out by turning down the advice. Oh yes, FOMO is very real!
And so, as a business owner, you're left with a choice.
Do you jump on the AI bandwagon because everyone else appears to be there, even if it means spending more without having any sort of guarantee that you’re going to see any proper value?
Or are you happier knowing that, while you might not be first in the queue for every new technology, for the time being you've already got everything you need to keep your business moving forward?
Not every business needs AI today
That might sound like an odd thing for a technology consultancy to say, but sometimes it's the honest answer. Take a small local bakery, for example. They've seen the headlines, heard AI is changing everything and have become convinced they'll be left behind if they don't invest immediately.
But people still need bread.
Customers aren't walking through the door because the bakery has implemented artificial intelligence. They're buying fresh loaves because that's what they came for. That bakery can adopt AI right this very second, or wait until there's a justifiable business case: it doesn't have an impact on the business’ ability to keep baking bread and delivering what their customers want.
That isn't to say AI has no place in the business world; far from it. Larger organisations dealing with thousands of repetitive tasks, complex compliance requirements, or huge volumes of operational data can unlock significant efficiencies through automation.
Even smaller businesses can see benefits, but the problem is that many are being pushed towards enormous foundation models when they simply don't need them. These models are big, bloated and power-hungry. If you're analysing reservoir data, why are you paying for a model that contains the entire history of Japanese culture, along with thousands of other subjects that have nothing to do with your business?
“But I still feel like we’re missing out”. OK, we hear you. And we have a solution: small AI.
Rather than relying on massive foundation models designed to answer almost every question imaginable, small AI focuses on solving a specific business problem. Instead of paying for capabilities you'll never use, you're using tech that's designed around the task you're actually trying to complete.
Whether that's analysing operational data, automating repetitive administration, or supporting a specialist workflow, small AI delivers targeted value without the unnecessary cost and complexity of much larger models. For many SMEs, it provides the confidence that they're not missing out, and that they’re embracing AI where it makes sense to do so, rather than simply following the crowd.
Do YOU need AI?
We’ll give you an honest answer.
Here at Tekh, our AI Readiness Health Check doesn’t start with a sales pitch, and we’re not automatically going to tell you that AI is the way forward. Instead, we focus on carrying out a jargon-free consultancy session that explores one simple question: does your business genuinely need AI?
Sometimes the answer is ‘yes.’
Sometimes it's ‘not yet.’
Sometimes a business just needs some AI training and a nudge in the right direction.
And sometimes, the answer is even simpler: you don't need AI at all.
That might not be what some businesses expect to hear, but it's often what they need to hear. After all, AI isn't cheap, and forcing it into a business that doesn’t need it will do little more than increase costs.
The purpose of the assessment is honest triage. It identifies where AI could improve efficiency, where preparation is needed before any investment should be made, and where the smartest commercial decision is to carry on exactly as you are. Sometimes businesses don't need yet another platform – they just need a transparent, trusted partner to tell them that they're already in a good place.
Not every trend suits everyone
Artificial intelligence will continue changing the way businesses operate, and there will undoubtedly be organisations that benefit enormously from adopting it. But good technology has always been about solving real problems, not chasing trends. Sometimes, the latest trend just doesn’t suit us.
The businesses that thrive won't always be the ones that buy AI first. Instead, it’s more likely that they'll be the ones that understand where it can actually create value, rather than simply adding cost.
Remember: in the age of AI, we still need bread!
At the end of the day, businesses succeed because they provide something people need. If AI helps you do that better, brilliant. If it doesn't, there's absolutely nothing wrong with waiting until it does.