AI for Breakfast

Chris Witham • February 5, 2024

Post 20 – Chatting with ChatGPT


Today I thought I’d have a chat with ChatGPT about why AI stands for Artificial Intelligence. Seems to me there’s not much that’s artificial about it, perhaps Assisted Intelligence would be better as it’s technology created by humans to help humans I thought? Anyway it seems AI put me straight, here’s how it played out…


Me: Discuss: Why does AI stand for Artificial Intelligence? Surely by the definition of the word artificial it's not at all?


ChatGPT: Hey Chris,
That's a great point and a fascinating topic to delve into. The term "Artificial Intelligence" (AI) might seem like an oxymoron at first glance, given the inherent contradiction between something being "artificial" and possessing "intelligence." Let's break it down a bit:


  • Artificial traditionally means something made by human skill or effort rather than occurring naturally in the world. It suggests a replication or simulation of natural processes or attributes through human-made means.
  • Intelligence refers to the ability to learn, understand, and apply knowledge, solve problems, and adapt to new situations. It's a characteristic often thought to be unique to living beings, especially humans.


When we talk about "Artificial Intelligence," we're referring to machines or software that are designed by humans to mimic or replicate human intelligence. This means these systems can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as understanding natural language, recognising patterns, solving complex problems, and even learning from experience.

Here's why the term "Artificial Intelligence" is fitting:


Mimicking Human Intelligence: AI systems are designed to simulate human cognitive functions. They're not conscious or sentient but can perform tasks that usually require human-like intelligence through algorithms and data analysis.

Created and Enhanced by Humans: The "artificial" aspect underscores that these capabilities are not innate to machines but are developed through programming, data input, and ongoing refinement by humans.

Expanding the Definition of Intelligence: By developing AI, we're essentially broadening our understanding of intelligence, recognising that intelligent behaviour can be replicated in non-living systems to some extent.

In essence, the term "Artificial Intelligence" captures the essence of what these technologies are: human-made systems that simulate aspects of human intelligence, extending our abilities to machines and software. It's a field that blurs the lines between the natural and the artificial, pushing the boundaries of what machines can do and how we think about intelligence itself.

What's your take on the evolution of AI in the context of design and online entrepreneurship? It must be quite an exciting time to explore how these technologies can enhance creativity and efficiency in your field.


Me: It is a very exciting time, a bit like the early days of the internet. As you know I'm keen to find out as much as I can and how I can help other business owners harness the power of AI in their business.


ChatGPT: Absolutely, Chris!


The parallels with the early days of the internet are spot on. Just as the internet revolutionised how businesses operate, communicate, and market themselves, AI is poised to bring about another significant transformation. Here are a few ways AI can be a game-changer for businesses, especially in fields like yours that blend creativity with technology:


Enhancing Online Presence and User Experience

  • Personalised User Experiences: AI can analyse user behaviour and preferences to tailor website content, recommendations, and interactions, making the user experience more engaging and effective.
  • Chatbots and Customer Service: Implementing AI-powered chatbots on websites can provide instant customer service, answering questions and guiding users, which is especially beneficial for small businesses that may not have large customer service teams.


Streamlining Operations and Services

  • Automated Workflows: From scheduling to content management, AI can automate repetitive tasks, freeing up time for more creative and strategic work.
  • Data Analysis and Decision Making: AI tools can process and analyse vast amounts of data to uncover insights, predict trends, and inform business decisions, helping companies stay ahead of the curve.


Boosting Marketing and Sales Efforts

  • Targeted Marketing Campaigns: AI can enhance marketing efforts by identifying target audiences more accurately and optimising campaigns in real-time for better results.
  • Sales Forecasting and Optimisation: By analysing sales data, AI can predict future trends, helping businesses adjust their strategies accordingly.


Creating New Opportunities

  • Product and Service Innovation: AI can assist in the development of new products and services by identifying gaps in the market or suggesting improvements for existing offerings.
  • Expanding Market Reach: AI-driven tools can help businesses understand and enter new markets more effectively, analysing market conditions, competition, and potential customer needs.


For someone like you, who's at the intersection of design, technology, and business, the opportunity lies in not just utilising AI tools but also in helping your clients understand and integrate these technologies into their operations. Whether it's through designing AI-enhanced websites, creating personalised user experiences, or leveraging data analytics for strategic insights, there's a vast landscape of possibilities.

Moreover, your interest in typography, design, and photography can benefit significantly from AI, with tools that automate design processes, suggest creative directions, or enhance images. This integration of AI can elevate the creative aspects of your work, allowing for more innovation and experimentation.

How do you envision incorporating AI into your projects? Are there specific areas within your business or your clients' operations where you see AI making a significant impact?


Thoughts: I left it at this point as I reckon we could go on and on indefinitely! Personally I found it useful although there's something rather strange about having a conversation with it, I guess this is something we are all getting used to these days.

Lines of colorful computer code on a dark background.
By Chris Witham December 11, 2025
Where AI really helps your Business If you spend any time on LinkedIn or X, you’ll have seen bold claims about how AI can help you build software in a matter of days. There’s a lot of excitement, a lot of big promises, and a fair bit of confusion for business owners trying to work out what’s real. A new term doing the rounds is “Vibe Coding” —the idea of describing what you want to an AI assistant and having it generate the code for you. It’s becoming popular because it can move things forward quickly and help people explore ideas they wouldn’t have been able to create alone. And the truth is, it does have its place. The challenge isn’t the technique. It’s the expectation that AI will automatically deliver finished, reliable, production-ready tools without any real design or thinking behind them. AI accelerates the work you already do well Used properly, AI can: • Remove huge amounts of repetitive work • Speed up drafting and iteration • Generate working prototypes in hours • Help non-technical people explore ideas • Improve documentation, planning and communication This is where it shines. But it still needs clarity, structure, and well-designed processes around it. It’s like having a very fast assistant rather than a fully formed development team. Why many AI projects don’t deliver what people expect Independent research this year showed a clear pattern: • Many early AI initiatives failed to produce measurable business value • Companies abandoned AI ideas because they couldn’t scale or integrate them • The gap between an impressive demo and a reliable tool is larger than people thought This doesn’t mean AI is overhyped. It means teams jumped straight to execution without the groundwork. The technology isn’t the issue. It’s the approach. Small businesses don’t need Enterprise Platforms Most UK small businesses don’t need to build a full software product. What they actually need is: • Better workflows • Faster content generation • Clearer communication • Improved customer support • Tools that reflect the way they work • Consistency and repeatability AI is perfect for this. A custom GPT trained on your tone, your documents and your processes can become: • A writing assistant • A customer support helper • A knowledge base navigator • An internal guide for staff • A quality-control layer • A process automator No engineering team needed. No complex infrastructure. No stress. Where AI builds real value right now AI works best when it’s part of a thoughtful, guided approach: • Define the outcome you want • Build a lightweight prototype (AI helps here) • Add structure, rules and guardrails • Connect it to your real workflow • Test it with real users or staff • Iterate until it feels natural You can still move fast. You just avoid building something brittle that breaks the moment it’s needed. The key insight: AI doesn’t replace expertise, it amplifies it AI is at its strongest when someone knowledgeable decides: • What it should do • What it shouldn’t do • How it should behave • What tone it should use • How it fits into the business • What checks and constraints matter That’s where tools like custom GPTs genuinely shine. They’re not software products in the traditional sense. They’re flexible assistants shaped around your business. With the right design, they can save huge amounts of time and deliver consistent, practical value without any of the complexity of building a full system. A more useful way to think about AI in 2026 Instead of “AI will build everything for you”, a healthier mindset is: AI speeds up the work, but you set the direction. For small businesses, that’s more than enough to make a real difference.
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