Why You Should Be Using AI for Your Business in 2026 (Even If You Hate AI)
Getting straight to the point: there is a lot of noise and, frankly, a lot of pushback against AI lately. I hear it, and I get it. It can feel cold, or like it’s taking the "soul" out of the work we do.
But as we move through 2026, AI isn’t a “futuristic trend” anymore. It is the essential infrastructure, basically, the digital plumbing, of a modern business. Refusing to use AI today could become a barrier to actually serving your people.
We use AI every day, whether we want to or not, because it’s in the background of our emails, schedules, and the tools we use to stay organized. If you’re running a business and you’re avoiding it because it feels "too techy" or a little bit scary (or soul-sucking), I want to encourage you to look at it differently.
You’re already using AI every single day, even if you don’t go into ChatGPT or Gemini to chat with them. Refusing to learn more about it or use it to help you at this point is getting to the point of being counterproductive. Here’s why I think it’s time to lean in, even if you’re a skeptic.
How can AI provide clarity for business owners?
We all have those parts of our business that feel like a tangled mess. For me, it’s the admin tasks, like the invoicing, the heavy-duty scheduling, the inbox management. Those tasks pull me away from the creative work and research I want to do. AI is incredibly good at removing that friction. It can help you organize your thoughts, draft a structure for a project, or handle the scheduling back-and-forth that eats up your afternoon. When you use it to handle the “clutter” and the “boring stuff”, you actually get more time to focus on what you’re good at and what lights you up.
Why do your customers expect you to use AI?
Whether we realize it or not, the people we serve have grown used to a certain level of responsiveness. They want answers quickly and they want things to feel seamless. If you’re stuck doing every single thing manually, you're going to fall behind the expectations of the people you care about. Using these tools allows you to show up for them better and more consistently.
Can AI help you do more with less?
Most of us want to do meaningful work that is sustainable. We want to do our jobs well and then go be with our families. AI allows a small team, or a team of one, to have the capacity of a much larger organization. It’s a tool for balance that helps us do more work without burning out.
The goal is still connection
At the end of the day, my work is guided by helping people feel seen and supported. AI can't replace that. It can't replace your story or your unique perspective, but it can build the bridge that helps your story reach more people.
If you've been resisting, try starting small. Use it to help you brainstorm a list of ideas or to summarize a long document you don’t have time to read but desperately want to get to. Use it to help you get past a point you feel “stuck” at in your business. Or, use it as a place to “brain dump” and then prioritize your ideas. The possibilities are endless, and I’ll probably write a whole post about that next!
The 2026 AI Reality Check: 3 Key Takeaways
AI is the new infrastructure: In 2026, AI isn’t an "extra" tool; it’s the digital plumbing in our emails and schedules. Avoiding it isn’t taking a stand for authenticity—it’s just making your daily work harder than it needs to be.
Efficiency creates more room for humanity: Using AI to handle the "tangled mess" of admin work (like scheduling and organization) doesn’t take the soul out of your business. It actually gives you more time to focus on real, human connection.
Sustainability over burnout: AI allows small teams and solo entrepreneurs to have the capacity of a much larger organization. It’s a tool for balance that helps you do meaningful work without sacrificing your time with family.
(Yes, I used AI to write the key takeaways! But not the rest of the article.)