Artificial intelligence is disrupting virtually every industry, from healthcare to manufacturing and retail. The business world is no different—AI is changing the way businesses operate in a big way. In fact, over 77% of enterprises use some form of AI, and that number will only grow in the future.

For entrepreneurs and startups, AI can be a powerful tool to automate and accelerate growth. Many AI tools are available that can help with everything from content generation to marketing and sales. In this post, we’ll look at some of the best AI tools for entrepreneurs and startups.

What is an AI business tool?

Before we dive into the different AI tools available, let’s first take a step back and define what we mean by an AI tool. AI tools for entrepreneurs are typically software applications that use artificial intelligence algorithms to perform specific tasks. In other words, it’s any software that uses AI to get the job done. It usually does the job faster, better, or cheaper than a human could.

For example, Draft uses AI to power our content idea generator which helps you overcome writers block by generating as many content ideas as you need.

Many of these tools use machine learning, a subset of AI that teaches computers to learn from data. This feat is done by feeding the computer large amounts of data (called training data) and then letting it learn from it. Once the computer has learned from the training data, it can then be used to make predictions or decisions about new data.

Here are some examples of AI tools for startups and entrepreneurs:

1. Grammarly

Grammarly is a writing tool that uses AI to check for grammar mistakes and suggest corrections. It’s powered by a machine learning algorithm that was trained on a large dataset of documents with known errors.

When you use Grammarly, you simply type (or paste) your text into the application, which will scan for errors. This handy tool also “reads” the tone of your text and offers suggestions accordingly. You can either accept the recommendations or ignore them.

Grammarly is an excellent example of an AI tool that automates a task that would otherwise have to be done manually (in this case, proofreading). You can save countless hours by using an AI tool like Grammarly to check your writing for errors.

At the enterprise level, businesses can ensure that their customer-facing documents are error-free and that each team member is using the same style guide. 

2. DALL-E image-to-text AI

Another interesting AI tool is DALL-E, an artificial intelligence program that generates images from textual descriptions. DALL-E is based on a machine learning algorithm called GPT-3, which was trained on a large dataset of images and their corresponding descriptions.

To use DALL-E, you simply type in a description of the image you want to generate. DALL-E will then create an image based on your prompt. For example, you could type “a cat playing with a ball of yarn” or “a close-up of a flower.” You can also specify the image style you want, such as “cartoon” or “realistic.”

This tool can be used for various purposes, from generating art to creating product designs. For businesses, DALL-E can be used to develop prototypes or mockups of products quickly. You can also use it to create marketing materials, such as banners or website headers. It’s a great way to add visual interest to your content without hiring a professional photographer or artist.

3. ChatBot

One of the most prominent applications of AI is chatbots. Chatbots are computer programs that mimic human conversation. They are powered by natural language processing algorithms that interpret the user’s input and respond accordingly. Chatbots can be used for various purposes, from customer service to sales and marketing.

Many businesses use chatbots on their websites or mobile apps to provide 24/7 customer support. Chatbots can handle a wide range of tasks, from answering simple questions to troubleshooting complex issues. Companies can also use them to make recommendations, such as suggesting products or services that the customer might be interested in.

In addition to providing customer support, chatbots can also be used to generate leads and close sales. For example, a chatbot could interact with potential leads by asking questions about the customer’s needs and budget. The chatbot could then pass the qualified lead to a sales representative for follow-up.

The aptly named “ChatBot” is one of the most popular chatbot platforms. It offers many features, including pre-built templates, customizable bots, and integrations with popular messaging platforms like Facebook Messenger.

4. Zendesk

Keeping track of customer support requests can be daunting, especially for small businesses. Zendesk is a customer service platform that uses AI to automate tasks associated with managing customer support. While chatbots simply respond to customer queries, Zendesk takes things a step further by identifying patterns and trends in customer support requests.

It automates the collection of valuable data points, such as the average first response time or the most common customer concerns. It also identifies high-performing articles in your help center, so you can direct customers to those articles first. All this data is presented in an easy-to-use dashboard, which gives you a clear overview of your customer support operation.

With Zendesk, you can stay on top of customer support without getting bogged down in the details. It’s a valuable tool for any business that wants to provide excellent customer service.

5. Timely AI calendar tool

Timely is a calendar app that uses AI to help you manage your time more effectively. It automates your company’s time-tracking tasks by integrating with your everyday applications. You can monitor your team’s productivity, see which projects are taking longer than expected, and get a clear overview of your company’s time utilization.

Timely is a great way to boost your team’s productivity and efficiency. You get real-time data on how your team uses their time, and you can use that data to make changes to your processes.

6. AIReflex fraud prevention tool

If you run an e-commerce business, you know that fraud is a constant concern. Credit card fraud costs businesses billions of dollars annually and can damage your reputation. You can use AI to prevent fraud by identifying patterns in customer behavior. Companies like aiReflex use machine learning algorithms to analyze customer data and flag potential fraud.

For example, transactions made from a different IP address than the customer’s usual location could be flagged as suspicious. Once flagged, a human can manually review the transaction before it is processed. This helps to prevent fraudulent chargebacks and protects your business from loss.

Manually reviewing every transaction would prove to be time-consuming and impractical. However, AI can automate this process by constantly monitoring your transactions and flagging only those deemed suspicious. This way, you can rest assured that your business is protected from fraud.

7. Murf AI speech app

Finally, we have Murf. Murf is a text-to-speech app that uses AI to generate realistic-sounding speech. You can use it for various purposes, such as creating audiobooks and podcasts or generating speeches for corporate training. You can also use it for voiceovers in product videos or infomercials, so it’s a very versatile tool.

If you need to generate a speech but don’t have the budget for a professional voice actor, Murf can be a great solution. They have over 120 different voices in 20 languages to choose from, so you’re sure to find one that sounds natural and realistic.

With their intuitive studio, you can add music, videos, or images to your project. You can also control the speech’s pacing, pitch, and intonation, so you can create a natural-sounding recording that sounds just like a professional voice actor.

The bottom line

Every day, AI is getting better at automating and supporting business tasks. Marketing and content creation are no exception. For help ideating, planning, and executing your content, check out Draft’s writer marketplace and our suite of AI content tools.