So, what about AI? We hear this often!

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is the idea that machines can do things that normally need human intelligence. That might mean learning from data, solving problems, understanding language or spotting patterns. It could be analysing thousands of rows of data in seconds or writing a summary of a meeting.

The concept has been around since the 1950s, but the last few years have seen AI move from labs and research papers into the tools people use every day. That shift has come thanks to better access to data, faster computing, and more advanced models.

Most AI in use today is what we call narrow AI. It’s designed to do one job really well. That could be answering questions, helping process invoices, or predicting what you’ll want to watch next. General AI, the sort that can think for itself across any topic, is still far off.

The important bit is this, AI is no longer just for tech companies. It’s built into software you already use, whether you realise it or not. And it’s giving people a way to get more done, more quickly, with fewer mistakes. You don’t need to be technical to take advantage of it. You just need to know what’s possible and how to apply it to your work.

AI comes in different forms and flavours depending on what you need.

• Machine Learning (ML) is the most common. You feed it data, it learns from it, and it starts spotting patterns and making predictions. Deep Learning is a more complex version, often used for voice, vision or language tasks.

• Generative AI (GenAI) is what’s driving a lot of current excitement. These models don’t just process data, they create things. Text, images, code, video - all built from patterns in what they’ve seen before.

• Natural Language Processing (NLP) helps AI understand and respond to human language. This powers things like email sorting, transcription and chatbots. 

• Reinforcement Learning is another type. It teaches models through trial and error, useful in robotics, supply chains or dynamic pricing.

Often, these types are blended. An AI tool might use NLP to understand a query, ML to interpret the context, and GenAI to create a response. You don’t need to learn the tech. But knowing what it can do makes it easier to spot opportunities in your own world.

 Several models are leading the way, and each has its own strengths.

• ChatGPT, by OpenAI, is the most well-known. It’s fast, flexible and great at writing, summarising or answering questions in a human-sounding way.
• Claude, from Anthropic, is another popular option. It focuses more on safety and interpretability, which appeals to companies in regulated sectors or those working with sensitive content.
• Gemini, from Google, integrates with web search and Google tools. It’s good at bringing in up-to-date information and real-time facts.
• Mistral is an open-source model. That means you can run it on your own infrastructure. It’s fast, lightweight, and ideal for companies that want more control and data privacy.

And here’s one to think about. AlphaFold, from DeepMind, doesn’t write emails or generate text. It uses AI to predict protein structures and is changing the pace of medical research. A reminder that AI is not just a productivity tool, it’s solving serious scientific challenges too.

Each model has a different role to play. The key is to understand what you need, then choose the model that fits , whether that’s creativity, accuracy, privacy or speed.

Here are just 4 examples to set the scene but the solutions are very much related to each unique business related challenge:

1. Cutting Out Repetitive Work

AI is brilliant at structured, repeatable tasks. In finance, tools can scan invoices, match them to purchase orders, and flag issues without needing a person to step in. One UK accountancy firm saved over 1,200 hours a year by automating onboarding and admin tasks. The same is happening across HR, procurement and compliance.

2. Sharpening Research

Whether it’s scanning board packs, reviewing market trends or analysing customer feedback, AI tools can speed things up. Platforms like AlphaSense or ChatGPT can summarise hundreds of pages in minutes. Private equity teams are using them to scan investment decks and pick up risks early, all giving more time to focus on actual decisions.

3. Improving Customer Support

Chatbots are getting smarter. AI can now handle a large chunk of common customer service queries , such as checking orders, managing returns, and routing tougher issues to the right team. One telecoms provider cut support costs by 25 percent and improved customer satisfaction just by rolling out AI across their digital channels.

4. Smarter Marketing and Personalisation

Retailers are using AI to predict what customers will want, when to offer discounts, and how to personalise messages. Amazon’s recommendation engine drives more than a third of its sales. Tools like Salesforce Einstein are bringing that same capability to businesses of all sizes. It means better targeting and stronger results.

 AI can unlock huge value, we at BOXTWO always focus an value, but it comes with responsibility.

First is privacy. AI needs data, and often that includes personal information. If you’re not handling it properly, you risk falling foul of GDPR or losing customer trust.

Second is bias. If a model is trained on flawed data, it can make flawed decisions. That matters in hiring, finance, healthcare, in fact anywhere that fairness matters.

And then there’s explainability. Some AI tools work in ways that even the developers can’t fully explain. If you’re making decisions that affect people, that’s a problem.

The solution isn’t to avoid AI, it’s to use it properly. That means thinking about how it’s trained, checking for fairness, and making sure you have human oversight. Build in the right checks. Be transparent. Treat it like any other serious business tool. If you get this part right, trust becomes a differentiator, not just a safeguard.

 AI isn’t coming. It’s already here, built into tools that people use every day. What’s changed is that it’s no longer just for big companies or technical teams. It’s now available to anyone with a laptop and a clear idea of what they want to achieve.

Whether it’s speeding up admin, improving accuracy, sharpening decision-making or personalising how you connect with customers, AI is already delivering real impact. You don’t need to become a machine learning expert. You just need to know where it fits and what problem it solves for your team.

Start with the basics. Look at your business and ask, 'what are the slow, manual, error-prone jobs?'. 'What takes too long or costs too much?'. That’s where AI can make a difference quickly.

But it’s not just about speed. When used properly, AI frees people up to do the things they’re best at, the human stuff. Thinking creatively, solving complex problems, and building better relationships.

The businesses that get this balance right will move faster, make better decisions, and stay ahead. Not because they have the most advanced tech, but because they’ve figured out how to use it well.

If you would like to know more about our services and experience around AI, it's applications, and how we can help you see its full value within your business, please reach out by clicking the button below