Exploring the Impact of AI on Automation, Decision-Making, and the Future Workforce
Okay, I’ll be honest with you—last year, I was one of those people who thought AI in business operations was just another tech buzzword that would take a while to integrate into our everyday lives. I was wrong.
Sitting here at my kitchen table, and honestly? It’s both exciting and a little terrifying.
Let me share what I’ve been seeing—and experiencing—as AI in business operations reshapes how we do business in 2025.
🤖 The Automation Thing That Actually Works (Finally)
So here’s the thing about automation that no one tells you: it’s not just about robots taking over (despite what the movies say). It’s about getting rid of the stuff that makes you want to bang your head against your desk.
My son took a summer job doing data entry. He described the hours he spent manually typing numbers from paper forms into spreadsheets. It was painful to hear. And I kept thinking, “There has to be a better way.”
Turns out, there is. And it’s happening everywhere now.
I started using this AI tools for my own business last month—and I’m not gonna lie, I was skeptical. Using chatbots still feels a bit weird to me, though. I’ll admit it. When I’m shopping online and that little pop-up appears asking if I need help, part of me still wants to find a real person. But you know what? These AI assistants are getting scary good.
📊 When AI in Business Operations Gets Good at Knowing What You Want
Can we talk about how Netflix knows my likes better than I do. It saves me a lot of time endlessly scrolling through the options.
Last week, I finished binge-watching some random show, and within minutes, Netflix suggested three other shows that were exactly what I wanted to watch next. It was near perfect recommendations.
The same thing happens with my Audible account. I’ll finish a book, and boom—there’s another recommendation that I end up loving. It’s like having a friend who knows your taste perfectly, except… It’s not a friend. It’s an algorithm.
And honestly? As a business owner, this both amazes and worries me. Because if AI can predict what I want to read or watch, what does that mean for how I reach my own customers?
I’ve started experimenting with some AI in business operations tools for my marketing (Facebook Ads, mainly), and the results have been… well, better than I expected. But there’s this nagging feeling that I’m not entirely sure why they’re working so well. Does that make sense?
💼 The Job Thing We’re All Thinking About
Look, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about this. We all are, right?
That Goldman Sachs report about 300 million jobs being affected by AI? Yeah, that kept me thinking. Because what if my business becomes obsolete? What if the skills I’ve spent years developing suddenly don’t matter?
There are more and more articles about companies replacing human jobs with AI.
But then—and I feel guilty even saying this—I think about how frustrated I used to get calling customer service and being put on hold for 45 minutes. So maybe… maybe some of this change is necessary?
What gives me hope is that I’m seeing new opportunities, too. The World Economic Forum says AI will create 69 million new jobs by 2027. That sounds good on paper, but what does it actually mean for someone like me? Or for my son, who’s trying to figure out what to study in college?
🚀 So… What Am I Actually Doing About All This Buzz of AI in Business Operations?
Here’s the thing—I can’t just sit here and worry about it forever.
I started small. Really small. I picked one task that was driving me crazy—scheduling posts and tasks and found an AI tool to help with it. And you know what? It worked. Not perfectly, but well enough that I saved about 4 hours a week.
My advice: Don’t try to revolutionize everything at once. Pick one annoying task and see if AI can help with it. You might be surprised.
The Bottom Line
AI isn’t going away. I’ve accepted that. And honestly, most days I’m excited about the possibilities. But I’m also scared, and I think that’s normal.
What I’m trying to focus on is this: How can I use these tools to do what I love better? How can I serve my customers in ways that feel more personal, not less?
Because at the end of the day, business is still about people. And no matter how smart AI gets, I don’t think it’ll ever be able to replace the feeling of building something meaningful with your own hands.
At least, I hope not.