From the Expert: Getting Real About AI
The inquiries have been pouring in since Matt “MJ” Johnson and several of his co-founders from GoKart Labs launched Minneapolis AI software engineering company Blank Metal this summer. It’s everyone from mutli-billion dollar companies to startups that know they’ll be disrupted if they don’t figure out how to capitalize on AI. “We’re at peak hype,” Johnson says. “Companies know there’s potential, but they don’t know how to realize that potential. We’re trying to focus on practical applications for real business.” Here’s his advice on how your business can ease in to AI solutions.
1. It comes from the top.
“It’s critically important for leaders to be experimenting with AI tools themselves. Think about it like this: would you outsource using the internet, or email?”
2. Schedule employee jam sessions.
“Learning AI is like practicing an instrument—you can buy the best tool, but if you never practice, you’re not going to get good. Spend 15 to 30 minutes a day experimenting with these tools and then share what you’re doing with colleagues.”
3. Start with internal projects.
“AI is great for protoyping new ideas. The risk of getting it wrong is low. Then move into customer service and software engineering. Be really mindful of how you apply it to other parts of the business—if it’s a 20-step project, confidence goes down with every step.”
4. Treat AI like your startup team.
“You can really de-risk a business idea by using AI to test and offer feedback. It can build a prototype of a product or functioning piece of software in days or hours. Think of it as a thought partner, a free strategy consultant to bring something forward faster and cheaper.”
5. Stay true to your business.
Johnson has a friend whose landscaping company motto is “The Future is Handmade.” His response: “AI could predict weather patterns that might disrupt the work. It could generate design ideas. But then, for a boutique service company, does it make sense to take away from the craft? Stay true to your core…but I would also be exploring and experimenting with AI.”
