In this episode of the Max Your Business Podcast, hosts Ben Fewtrell and David Carlin dive into one of the biggest topics in business right now: Artificial Intelligence. Fresh back from a tech conference in the US, they unpack how AI is already saving business owners a stack of time and why ignoring it is a massive risk to your competitive advantage. 

Ben and David share real-world case studies on how AI "employees" are already answering phones, freeing up teams, and creating better customer experiences. If you think AI is just a gimmick, a robot, or something that won't affect your industry, this episode is a must-listen.  

Episode Highlights: 

00:00 – Welcome to the Max Your Business Podcast 

03:03 – The high cost of ignoring AI (and why your competitors won't) 

04:48 – Debunking the myth: You're already using AI every day (e.g., Google, cruise control) 

08:10 – How AI augments your team, not just replaces them 

10:01 – Using AI to finally build systems and structure in your business 

11:03 – Case Study: How a smash repairer handled 671 calls with an AI employee 

13:56 – The 15-minute cost of a single interruption (and how AI solves it) 

17:15 – Beyond chatbots: Building your own custom AI "Fishing Coach" 

22:17 – A critical warning from Google about AI and your website content 

24:15 – Why customers are happier talking to AI (the 99% positive sentiment) 

29:03 – Your next steps to get started with AI 

Key Takeaways: 

• You're Already Behind: If you aren't using AI, your competitors who are will overtake you and go way faster. 

• It's Not a Robot: AI is already in your life, from Google to your car's adaptive cruise control and your microwave's auto-defrost. 

• Augment, Don't Replace: AI is not about replacing jobs ; it's about helping people do a better job and freeing them up for high-value tasks they "don't get to". 

• Structure Through Tech: Implementing AI forces you to systemise <span