That said, Oxford University Press has named ‘rizz’ word of the year, but the term AI is still becoming increasingly inescapable!

AI can be bewildering for busy business leaders focussed on managing their teams and looking after their bottom lines to keep up with the quickly expanding range of AI tools available to them. It’s even more challenging for non-tech savvy leaders who may struggle to visualise the concept, let alone consider how it can be applied to their operations or services.

However, understanding the power of these tools should be seen as a help, rather than a hindrance. They can be great for boosting productivity, which is a big deal for UK companies since recent research by the ONS shows the UK’s productivity levels are 16% below the average for the other members of the G7 group of industrial nations.
Therefore, business leaders should want to leverage AI to their advantage to get more done to keep up pace with foreign competitors. Of course, they will also be worried about the risks involved with using AI tools and the importance of keeping a human eye on what’s going on but those concerns are easily addressed.

Here are five top types of AI tools to help business leaders and their teams save time and boost productivity.

Automation software

Some companies are already using automation software that is driven by AI to automate processes that were previously done manually. This software rapidly speeds up tasks that were done in a very slow, labour-intensive way in the past.

One example of this changing process is using AI-driven software to monitor competitor prices online, which can quickly boost productivity levels for businesses like retailers operating in price-sensitive markets. 

Large language models

Large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT are great for generating content ideas including themes and titles, as well as whole articles. They're also very useful for analysing data through Code Interpreter, using various plugins.

For example, do you want to search for unseen trends in vast amounts of data contained in spreadsheets? Simply find the right plugin, analyse the data and interpret the results. However, be cautious and fact check everything LLMs produce as they are known to make some massive mistakes! 

Image generators

In the age of Instagram, image is everything! In 2024 images will become more important than ever for quality marketing for most companies. As those responsible for sourcing images understand, sourcing and producing images can take an awful lot of time.

AI based image generators (also known as text to image apps) like the one offered by Canva can do the job quickly and easily. But they do present issues around ownership and copyright, which means users need to ensure they read and understand the terms and conditions before using them.

Live translation tools

Real time language translation solutions are key for running a modern business. Whether it’s for talking to remote workers recruited to overcome labour shortages, dealing with international partners in new supply chains to overcome supply issues, or speaking to new international customers. 

However, you need to make sure you’re getting top-quality translations. For instance, you can use those offered by Pocketalk for Business SENTIO, a live translation service that uses Whisper technology developed by OpenAI, as well as Pocketalk’s two-way digital translation devices.

Getting ‘lost in translation’ because of using low-quality translation options could be highly embarrassing and very costly for your business. So, it’s better not to risk it and invest in quality services for peace of mind. 

AI calendar assistants

Business leaders can take advantage of AI calendar assistants to schedule time in the most efficient way by optimising the working day. AI calendar assistants can organise schedules to maximise workflows, making them very helpful for busy entrepreneurs and directors with too many meetings, not enough time and a packed email inbox.

Overall, there may be a fear factor initially, but the business leaders who act now and utilise accessible, innovative AI tools can gain serious competitive advantages in their markets.