We’re thrilled to announce that Kate vanderVoort, Founder and CEO of Social Mediology, was recently featured on the AI Explored Podcast with Michael Stelzner. During this insightful interview, Kate shared her expertise on AI integration, custom GPT development, and the critical role of cultural change in AI adoption. Here are the key takeaways from her discussion.
What is AI Integration in Business?
AI integration goes beyond automation - it’s about enhancing human expertise. Kate explained how AI can support and amplify human capabilities, encouraging a collaborative approach where technology becomes a partner rather than a replacement.
A significant part of successful AI integration is cultural change. Businesses must prioritise education and internal support to ease fears around AI’s potential impact. This cultural shift helps organisations move from a mindset of resistance to one of exploration and growth.
Kate highlighted the importance of aligning AI integration with business goals, resources, and customer needs. Before diving into AI adoption, businesses should assess where AI fits into their strategic objectives and how it can add the most value to their operations.
How to Build a Custom GPT Dream Team
One of the most exciting concepts Kate discussed was the creation of a “custom GPT Dream Team.” This approach involves developing a suite of tailored AI assistants, each focused on a specific task or audience. This strategy boosts productivity, efficiency, and the ability to meet unique business needs.
Each “Dream Team” member addresses a distinct business function, such as content creation, customer engagement, or data analysis. By building these targeted AI tools, businesses can leverage the power of specialisation to drive better results.
The development of custom GPTs is an iterative process. It begins with foundational documents that define the business’s operations, market strategy, and target audience. This process ensures that each AI tool is deeply aligned with the company’s goals and culture.
What is an AI Audit and Why is it Important?
An AI audit helps identify areas where AI can deliver the greatest impact. Kate recommended that businesses conduct an AI audit by documenting daily tasks over a month and analysing how much time is spent on repetitive activities.
The insights gained from an AI audit help businesses pinpoint specific areas where AI can streamline processes and increase productivity. By recognising these opportunities, businesses can make more informed decisions about which AI tools and capabilities to adopt.
The AI audit serves as a foundation for developing an AI implementation plan that directly addresses the company’s most time-consuming tasks. This practical approach is particularly useful for small businesses with limited resources, enabling them to see tangible benefits from AI adoption.
What Are Foundation Documents for Custom GPTs?
Foundation documents are essential when developing custom GPTs and integrating AI into business processes. These documents provide the context that AI tools need to produce high-quality, relevant outputs.
Kate explained that these documents should include information on the business’s professional background, market position, and operational structure. They serve as a guide for training AI models to understand the nuances of a business’s tone, brand voice, and strategic priorities.
The creation of foundation documents is a collaborative, iterative process. As AI tools generate outputs, businesses refine and expand these documents to ensure ongoing improvement. This back-and-forth process helps companies create AI solutions that are both accurate and aligned with their brand identity.
How Can AI Enhance Customer Engagement?
AI-powered custom GPTs offer a powerful tool for customer engagement. Kate shared how businesses can simulate focus groups and customer interactions with AI, significantly reducing the time and effort typically required for customer research.
Through AI-driven simulations, companies can generate insights into their target audiences’ preferences, needs, and pain points. These insights help businesses refine their marketing strategies, customer support processes, and product development initiatives.
In addition, AI can analyse market trends and competitor strategies. This analysis enables businesses to identify gaps in the market and uncover opportunities for growth. By using data-driven insights, companies can stay ahead of industry shifts and maintain a competitive edge.
How Can AI Create Actionable Business Strategies?
With foundation documents in place, businesses can leverage AI to develop actionable marketing strategies, content plans, and customer journey maps. Kate discussed how AI tools facilitate “blue-sky” thinking, allowing teams to brainstorm innovative ideas and explore fresh possibilities.
AI serves as a powerful advisory resource, offering suggestions, templates, and scenario analysis to streamline decision-making. By collaborating with AI, businesses can ensure that their strategies remain aligned with their goals and customer needs.
The result is a more efficient, data-driven approach to strategy development, where AI enhances human creativity and critical thinking. This combination of human insight and AI-driven analysis leads to well-rounded, impactful business plans.
Kate’s appearance on the AI Explored Podcast with Michael Stelzner was packed with valuable insights on AI integration, custom GPT development, and AI-driven strategy. Her human-centred approach reinforces the importance of cultural change, ongoing education, and thoughtful AI adoption.
If you’re looking to better understand how AI can support your business, listen to the full episode of AI Explored featuring Kate vanderVoort. You’ll gain actionable advice on creating custom GPTs, conducting AI audits, and leveraging AI for growth, productivity, and enhanced customer engagement.