I remember when my dad came home from work one day in the late 1990s. We were at the dinner table when he announced, “I got on the internet today!”
I was only six years old, but I still remember this moment because, to all of us, it sounded like such a bizarre statement. What was the internet anyway? Little did we know how much the internet would change our society. Among those affected would be my own father, who worked in the printer and copier industry.
For better or worse, we now live in the dawn of a new era: the age of AI.
AI has the potential to wreak havoc on entire industries. It has the potential to be used (by bad guys and good guys) for incredible, mind-boggling feats.
Many people predict it will cause the end of civilization. Others believe it will cost us all our jobs. The most optimistic see it as the gateway to a future where humans never have to work.
I stand somewhere in the middle. I think AI can be very useful for the greater good of mankind. But I also see the potential it has to replace jobs and shut down a nation’s infrastructure.
I’m a software developer who owns a software company. I can’t ignore AI, even if I wanted to. My industry is on the frontlines of witnessing its implementation and transformation. It’s getting better and better at coding and logically assessing bugs. These are things I get paid for!
It’s not hard to see a future where half of all software developers are out of a job. That might be pessimistic, but you don’t solve problems you refuse to face. As a small business owner facing major industry changes because of AI, I have to confront the facts and plan for the future if I want my business to still be around in 30 years.
You should do the same.
Take a moment to envision your industry, your company, in 20 years. What services can you offer that AI won’t be able to replace? What products can you sell that AI won’t be able to beat in price or quality or both? Once you have a clear idea of where we’re headed, you can begin to pivot.
For me, I see a future where AI will build websites with just a few prompts (we’re almost there already). To get ahead of the curve, I developed a product called “Website by Friday” that waives my usual development fee in exchange for a small monthly subscription.
My reasoning is that when AI is good enough to fully replace web developers:
- My existing customers won’t be tempted by instant AI websites because they’ll already have an amazing website with me.
- My pricing model – a monthly subscription – will be the same model AI uses, so I’ll remain competitive for any new customers looking for a website.
But do you want to know my secret weapon, something AI will never be able to do? I will provide my customers with real human interaction. This will be my selling point. Real world developers will review your code, real humans will test your website, and real people will answer the phone.
Here’s the good or bad news (depending on how you look at it): no matter what industry you are in, AI is coming for you too.
I might be in an industry that feels the “crunch” first, but make no mistake – you will feel it as well. It may be five years, it may be ten, but AI is here to stay.
If you’re in an industry that is experiencing a massive change, do what I’m doing. Look ahead to what AI will be doing in your field in 5-10 years. Then start providing value in all of the areas it can’t.
If you’re a plumber, you might be fine for a long time. But make no mistake, someone will invent a robot that can run PEX pipe and fit inside the smallest of crawlspaces. This robot will be equipped with an AI chip that can process more data in 10 seconds than you could in 10 hours. When this happens, you’re going to wish you had planned for the future.
My dad was in the printer and copier business from the 1970s all the way through the early 2010s. He was on the frontline, watching the internet slowly take over the paper industry. Granted, it took a few decades, but eventually, the demand for printers and copiers dwindled.
I have a feeling AI will move a little faster than the internet did.
I love small businesses. I guess that’s why I’m writing this article: I want to see the millions of small business owners be proactive when it comes to the future of their industry. Your biggest competitor is not the business down the street – it’s AI.
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Ethan McNeil
P.S. Speaking of AI, do you need help figuring out how AI can help your business grow right now? Use our contact form to reach out for a free consultation!
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