The Value of AI - Are You Ignoring Your Most Powerful Data Tool?

Episode 2 Transcript Elizabeth Gearhart, Ph.D.: Welcome to AI in Business: Use Cases From the Real World. I’m Elizabeth Gearhart, podcast consultant, marketing expert, and Ph.D. researcher using AI every day. Richard Gearhart: And I’m Richard Gearhart, entrepreneur, seasoned business owner, and intellectual property attorney specializing in innovation. Elizabeth: On this show, we explore how real companies are using AI right now. We’re going to segue into a roundtable discussion and ask everyone one simple question: What is one way you’re using AI in your business today? AI Use Case: AI Search and Unbiased Research Mark: I’ve written a lot about AI, including pieces on regulation that were published on Fox. I still like to be creative myself, so I don’t use AI for writing, but I use it heavily for research. AI search is incredibly valuable. Whether I’m researching people I want to connect with, products I’m buying, or diagnosing something like what’s wrong with my car, AI search gives me unbiased input much faster. In the past, we had to scroll through search results and reviews. Now AI tells you directly what mattress to buy or what might be wrong with your transmission. It’s a much more effective way to research. AI Use Case: Expression, Coaching, and Accessibility Gary: Listening to this conversation brought me back to my time at the ESPN Institute, when large language models were just becoming public. Growing up with learning differences, there was often a gap between what I wanted to express and what actually came out. AI has changed that. You can outline what you’re thinking and then see it written out clearly, exactly as you intended. Many of my clients have ADHD or other learning challenges. AI helps them express themselves more fully and clearly. In my business, all my calls are transcribed and run through ChatGPT. With the right prompt, it reviews past conversations, identifies what’s on track or off track, and prepares topics for the next call, including psychological and coaching insights. It’s incredibly powerful. AI Use Case: Data Analysis for Business Decisions Tim: We’re building AI into everything we do. I’m known for Ghost City Tours, but one of my main applications is in a reptile conservation center I own. We breed critically endangered reptiles. Each animal has thousands of data points over its lifetime. By integrating AI into our software, we can analyze that data to understand what keeps these animals alive and how to successfully produce future generations. We use AI similarly in our tourism business—analyzing Google Analytics, Search Console, booking data, and more. AI connects data points that no human could realistically connect on their own, helping us make better business decisions. We’re not just asking AI to write things—we’re using it to analyze complex data and guide strategy. Group Discussion: AI, Jobs, and Productivity Elizabeth: I recently spoke with someone in Europe about how their company is implementing AI. Instead of cutting jobs, they’re using AI to automate routine tasks so employees can spend more time with customers and driving growth. In the U.S., the narrative is often about job cuts. But AI doesn’t have to be a job destroyer—it can be a way to redeploy talent more effectively. Richard: If companies provide incentives for adopting AI and reassure employees that their jobs aren’t disappearing, adoption happens faster. You may even attract better employees—people who want to combine AI with their intellectual skills. Real-World AI Use Case: Content Repurposing and Events Elizabeth: I’ll share a recent example. I hosted a meetup and recorded it on Zoom. I edited the video in Descript, then took the transcript and ran it through ChatGPT. I asked it to generate a recap email, including links to podcasts, tools, and resources mentioned during the event. That would have taken hours manually. AI reduced it to about an hour, with the longest part being downloading and processing the files. Closing Elizabeth: You’ve been listening to AI in Business: Use Cases From the Real World. Every week, we hear different answers because everyone is using AI in different ways. Richard: The future of business is being shaped right now, and AI is a major part of that. About the Hosts Elizabeth Gearhart, Ph.D. is a marketing executive, podcast host, and AI strategy speaker focused on how businesses are actually using artificial intelligence today. She is also the co-host of Passage to Profit, a nationally syndicated radio show airing on 38 stations through the iHeartMedia Network. Richard Gearhart, Esq. is a life sciences intellectual property attorney and founding partner of Gearhart Law, advising emerging biotech and pharmaceutical companies on patents, licensing, and commercialization strategy. He integrates AI into firm operations with a focus on responsible, real-world deployment.