The AI business tools you need to know about

The key players and how you can use them. Plus, some names you need to know. 

ChatGPT 

Launched: November 2022

Who owns it? OpenAI, which was founded more than 10 years ago with a load of funding from Microsoft.

What is it? ChatGPT is a large language model, meaning it’s been trained on a tonne of information from the internet.

How could you use it? ChatGPT can do heaps of stuff. At a basic level, it can help you write emails to customers, brainstorm business ideas, help you figure out how to tackle difficult conversations, and write social media captions. At a more advanced level, ChatGPT agents can be created and trained to streamline tasks such as inducting new recruits, or be a source of knowledge by uploading training manuals and standards. ChatGPT – and Google Gemini, read on! – are increasingly good at research, so if you wanted to research your competitors’ service offerings for example, you can have some thorough research in a matter of minutes.

Cost: ChatGPT offers three access levels: free – which is fine for basic tasks,  US$20 per month for ‘Plus’ which has extended limits on messaging, analysis and uploads, and ‘Pro’ for US$200 per month.

Google Gemini

Launched: February 2023 (as Google Bard)

Who owns it? Take a wild stab in the dark…

What is it? Google Gemini is essentially Google’s answer to ChatGPT, and has real-time access to the internet.

How could you use it? Exactly the same as ChatGPT! In the AI world, some people prefer ChatGPT, others prefer Gemini as their ‘base’ AI platform of choice. A strong selling point of Gemini is its Google integration. If you use Google Workspace, Gemini is included as part of your subscription, and can create new documents in Drive, help you prepare for meetings by summarising emails, and perform tasks based on Drive activity.

Cost: If you use Google Workspace, Gemini is now included as part of many Workspace subscriptions. Otherwise, Gemini has free entry-level access, and like ChatGPT, has different pricing tiers based on usage.

Microsoft Copilot

Launched: February 2023 as Bing Chat

Who owns it? Again, no points for guessing that one!

What is it? Copilot is marketed as an ‘AI companion’ for Microsoft products, so it’s built into the Microsoft Edge web browser, Microsoft 365 and Windows to work alongside you.

How can you use it? This one really is a ‘companion’ in that it’s always present within Microsoft, so you can easily ask it questions and give it day-to-day tasks while you’re working – for example, if you’re working on a proposal you could ask it to review all emails from the client to ensure you’ve covered everything, or get it to do that first draft. It can summarise emails too – similar to Gemini.

Cost: Some access is free of charge – for example, within the Edge browser. The Copilot add-on for Microsoft 365 is priced around AU$45 per month.

Claude by Anthropic

Launched: March 2023

Who owns it? Anthropic, an AI safety and research company.

What is it? It’s another generative AI large language model, meaning it’s been trained on the content of the internet. 

Strengths: Claude handles longer and more complex requests particularly well, making it a good choice for detailed tasks.

How can you use it? Claude would be a good choice if you were drafting a new policy for your team, reviewing a contract and summarising key points or things you should look closely at, or giving detailed explanations of new technology.

Cost: You can access Claude for free, while a ‘Pro’ licence costs US$20 per month, and ‘Max’ tier starts at US$100.

Midjourney

Launched: 2022

Who owns it? Midjourney Inc.

What is it? Midjourney is an image generator – it can create really good images from a text description.

Strengths: Midjourney’s one of the strongest image generators out there at present.

How can you use it? You could use Midjourney for a wide range of visual tasks, including creating images for social media posts, website banners or ads, or creating a new logo. Midjourney can also help visually conceptualise ideas if you’re creating a client proposal.
Cost: Monthly subscriptions range from US$10 to US$120. 

AI-enabled business tools for electrical contractors

Looking for something that can help you right here, right now? Check out some of these platforms.

Sophiie.ai – a virtual assistant capable of everything from answering phone calls and replying to emails to scheduling jobs.

ServiceM8 (with AI features) – a field service management platform that integrates AI to streamline operations. Its AI can assist with generating accurate estimates by analysing historical data, automating routine customer communications (like drafting emails and proposals), and simplifying invoicing by automatically generating detailed invoices from job data.

Workiz (with AI features) – an all-in-one field service management platform that leverages AI for intelligent scheduling, dispatching, and customer communication. Its AI can optimise technician routes, schedule jobs based on availability and location, handle initial customer enquiries 24/7, and automatically pull key details from calls for lead tracking and upselling.

Kreo – an AI electrical takeoff and estimating software designed to optimise the estimation process. It automates quantity takeoffs, helps validate cost estimates, and allows for real-time collaboration on a cloud-based platform. Its Auto Count and Ask AI features help quickly quantify electrical components from drawings.

Retro AI – focuses on electrical safety audits and compliance inspections. While not solely an AI tool, it utilises technology (likely including AI for analysis and reporting) to conduct in-depth inspections, identify hidden hazards, and provide recommendations for enhancing safety and optimising electrical systems.

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