Everybody is Using AI (and You Should Too)
In today's fast-moving digital economy, business as usual is no longer enough. Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic tool for tech giants—it's quickly becoming the silent partner behind every thriving organisation. In our Bottom Line podcast interview with AI consultant Inbal Rodnay, we dive deeper into how small and mid-sized businesses can leverage AI not just to survive, but to scale smarter, faster, and more securely.
AI as a Co-Pilot, Not a Competitor
“AI isn't replacing us. It’s augmenting us,” Inbal reminds us.
She urges us to think of AI not simply as a digital assistant, but as a co-pilot—a dynamic, context-aware partner capable of taking on different roles throughout the day. Need help drafting a client proposal in the morning? It’s your marketing assistant. Struggling with reconciliations in the afternoon? It becomes your finance officer. Reviewing deliverables in the evening? It’s your peer and performance coach.
Inbal explains:
“I don’t want us to give it a single personality. It can be your assistant, your coach, your peer—whatever you need at the time.”
AI Without Guardrails is a Risk, Not a Resource
While the excitement is real, so are the risks. Inbal is adamant that companies need a clear AI policy to define how tools like ChatGPT and Copilot are used.
“Provide your team with guardrails, not barriers,” she advises. “Let them explore, but protect your data.”
When considering any AI-enabled SaaS product, Inbal recommends asking the following:
Where is the data being sent?
Is session data saved or purged?
Is any of your input being used to train models?
If a vendor can’t give a straight answer—walk away.
Automation: The Hidden Treasure
Even before ChatGPT, automation was quietly revolutionising businesses—especially in accounting, HR, and admin-heavy functions.
Now, with tools like Power Automate, Power Query, and Zapier, anyone can build workflows that previously required a developer.
“Capture every ‘there must be a better way’ moment,” Inbal says. “That’s your roadmap for automation.”
Whether it’s moving files between apps, responding to emails, or reconciling data, modern automation tools can do the grunt work—if we empower teams to use them. The goal? To make every team member a process optimiser, not just the IT department.
Are AI Teammates the Future? Absolutely.
We’re already seeing early versions of AI teammates being marketed—apps trained to support finance, compliance, customer service, and more. While much of this is marketing hype today, Inbal believes we’re just a few steps away from seeing AI employees onboarded like any other team member.
“Imagine saying: ‘Go find those documents, prep the meeting brief, and roleplay questions with me.’ And it just happens. That’s where we’re headed.”
If you're still not using AI—whether it’s Copilot, ChatGPT, or automation tools—you’re missing out on serious business leverage. And as Inbal says, it’s not about replacing people—it’s about freeing them up for the work that truly matters.
Want to hear the full story?
Listen to Part 2 of our conversation with Inbal Rodnay on The Bottom Line podcast—available now on all major platforms.