Welcome, AI Freedom Finders

One of the biggest challenges we hear in the AI space at the moment is people not knowing how to get started. In today’s feature we unpack a simple method which helps you identify where AI will add most value to you, your job or your business.

The most important thing: just try it! It won’t be perfect, but you’ll be better than everyone who isn’t even doing that…

Before you dive in today - a quick heads-up:
We have created a free Skool community (if you’re not familiar with Skool, think Facebook group, but on steroids…)

You can ask questions about AI, and we are adding helpful tutorials, and articles on a weekly basis with plans to increase that too.

You can join here for free: JOIN NOW

In today’s Brief:

• Cheap AI Model Outperforms Expensive Alternatives Efficiently 🤖

• OpenAI Explores Hardware and Robots Beyond AI Software 💍

• Amazon goes all-in on AI with massive $100bn investment 🚀

Today’s Feature:

AI Quick Wins: Finding Your Business's Easy Opportunities ⏱️

Cheap AI Model Outperforms Expensive Alternatives Efficiently 🤖

The Brief: Stanford University researchers developed a low-cost AI reasoning model for under $50, challenging expensive AI development by achieving comparable performance through innovative distillation techniques.

Details:

• Stanford University and University of Washington researchers created s1, an AI reasoning model trained for under $50 in cloud compute credits.

• The s1 model was developed by distilling capabilities from Google's Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental model using a small dataset of 1,000 questions.

• Researchers discovered that simply adding the word "wait" during reasoning helped s1 achieve slightly more accurate answers on AI benchmarks.

• The project highlights potential AI model commoditisation, raising questions about the competitive moat for expensive AI research and development efforts.

Why It Matters:

By developing a high-performance AI model for just $50, researchers challenge the billion-dollar AI infrastructure paradigm, suggesting innovative techniques could democratise advanced AI development and potentially disrupt expensive tech giants' strategies.

OpenAI Explores Hardware and Robots Beyond AI Software 💍

The Brief: OpenAI's trademark filing reveals ambitious plans for AI-powered hardware, including smart devices, humanoid robots, and custom chips, signalling a significant technological expansion beyond software.

Details:

• OpenAI filed a trademark application suggesting potential product lines including hardware like smart jewelry, VR headsets, and AI-assisted devices.

• The application mentions user-programmable humanoid robots with communication and learning functions for assisting and entertaining people.

• OpenAI is exploring custom AI chips and potentially leveraging quantum computing resources to optimise AI model performance.

• CEO Sam Altman confirmed potential AI-powered consumer hardware development through partnerships, though a prototype may take several years.

Why It Matters:

OpenAI is signalling its intent to move beyond software, potentially transforming from an AI company to a hardware-driven tech powerhouse that could reshape personal computing and robotics through intelligent, programmable devices.

Amazon goes all-in on AI with massive $100bn investment 🚀

The Brief: Amazon will invest $100 billion in AI for 2025, with tech giants collectively spending billions to drive AI innovation and create transformative technological opportunities.

Details:

• Amazon plans to invest over $100 billion in AI capabilities for AWS in 2025, a significant increase from its 2024 spending.

• CEO Andy Jassy argues that lower AI costs will drive increased demand, not reduce overall technology spending, similar to early internet trends.

• Meta, Alphabet, and Microsoft are also making massive AI investments, with planned capital expenditures ranging from $60 billion to $80 billion in 2025.

• Big Tech leaders are confident that decreasing AI costs will expand potential use cases, showing continued commitment to AI development and infrastructure.

Why It Matters:

Big Tech's massive AI investments signal we're witnessing a technological revolution comparable to the internet's early days. Companies are betting billions that AI will fundamentally transform industries, creating unprecedented economic opportunities.

AI Quick Wins: Finding Your Business's Easy Opportunities ⏱️

The AI revolution isn't just for tech giants anymore. Whilst headlines often focus on groundbreaking AI implementations by major corporations, the real transformation is happening quietly in businesses of all sizes. The question isn't whether to implement AI, but rather where and how to begin.

Why Now is the Time to Act

Every business operation contains repetitive tasks that drain time and energy from more valuable activities. Whether it's summarising documents, analysing customer feedback, or drafting routine communications, these tasks are necessary but often prevent us from focusing on strategic growth.

The good news? Many AI tools have matured to the point where they're both accessible and practical. They don't require deep technical expertise or massive budgets. What they do require is a strategic approach to implementation.

A Framework for Smart Implementation

The key to successful AI implementation lies in identifying the right opportunities. Not every task should be automated, and not every AI solution will deliver meaningful returns. This is where strategic thinking becomes crucial.

Consider these four categories of tasks in your daily operations:

Stars: High Time-Saving, Non-Critical Errors

These are your prime candidates for AI implementation. Think of repetitive tasks where minor imperfections won't significantly impact your business. Examples include:

• Initial draft creation for routine emails or reports

• Basic customer enquiry responses

• Data organisation and preliminary analysis

• Social media content generation

Human in the Loop: High Time-Saving, Critical Errors

These tasks offer significant time savings but require human oversight due to their critical nature. Implement AI here as an assistant, not a replacement:

• Contract review and summary

• Financial analysis and reporting

• Customer complaint resolution

• Strategic planning documentation

Lower Priority: Low Time-Saving, Non-Critical Errors

These tasks might benefit from AI but shouldn't be your first focus:

• Occasional administrative tasks

• Simple data entry

• Basic file organisation

• Routine scheduling

Do Not Touch: Low Time-Saving, Critical Errors

These tasks should remain human-driven:

• Final legal document review

• Critical business negotiations

• Core strategic decisions

• Direct client relationships

Getting Started: Your First Steps

1. Audit Your Time: Spend a week noting where your time goes. Which tasks are repetitive? Which ones drain your energy without adding strategic value?

2. Map Your Findings: Plot your tasks on the quadrant matrix. Focus first on your "Stars" – tasks with high time-saving potential and low risk.

3. Start Small: Choose one "Star" task and implement an AI solution. This could be as simple as using AI for email drafting or document summarisation.

4. Measure and Adjust: Track the time saved and any challenges encountered. Use these insights to refine your approach before expanding to other tasks.

The Path Forward

Remember, implementing AI isn't about replacing human intelligence – it's about augmenting it. The goal is to free up your time and mental energy for tasks that truly require human insight, creativity, and strategic thinking.

Start with your "Stars," experiment with "Human in the Loop" processes, and always maintain control over critical operations. By taking this measured approach, you can harness AI's potential whilst maintaining the quality and personal touch that makes your business unique.

The future belongs to those who can effectively combine human expertise with AI capabilities. The tools are ready – the question is, are you?

When you’re ready, here’s how I can help you:

• Join the free growing Skool Community

• Grab guide on 100 Ways to Get Started with AI (free)

• Get my updated list of the best AI applications to use (free)

• Sponsor this newsletter: Get in front of an ever-growing audience of non-technical AI enthusiasts