In this episode of the Human First AI Marketing podcast, host Mike Montague sits down with Mark Andrews of AI Prophets to explore what AI literacy really means for small and medium-sized businesses. Together, they break down the myth of AI as an all-knowing wizard and instead reframe it as a tool, like a chainsaw, that can dramatically increase productivity when used correctly. From upskilling employees and integrating AI into daily workflows to the biggest mistakes businesses are making with data and vendor strategies, this conversation delivers essential insights for leaders navigating the evolving AI landscape.
Mark shares a ground-level view of how SMBs can start applying AI today, without getting overwhelmed by hype or enterprise-scale complexity. You’ll learn about three key domains of AI data science, generative AI, and automation, and how to identify time-saving opportunities in marketing, operations, and reporting. Whether you’re a frontline marketer, business owner, or director trying to build smarter systems without losing the human touch, this episode offers tactical advice, real-world analogies, and a refreshing dose of clarity on using AI to work smarter, not harder.
If you’ve been overwhelmed by the hype around AI or felt like you’re falling behind because you’re not automating your entire business overnight, you’re not alone. In a recent episode of the Human First AI Marketing podcast, I sat down with Mark Andrews, founder of AI Prophets, to cut through the noise and get down to what really matters for small and mid-sized business leaders: using AI practically and profitably.
Mark brings a fresh perspective to the conversation, one that’s focused less on buzzwords and more on building real workflows, improving efficiency, and upskilling people. As someone who’s been in both the marketing trenches and the tech/data world, Mark shared some powerful insights for any SMB leader looking to start or optimize their AI journey.
AI Is a Chainsaw, Not a Wizard Wand
Mark dropped one of the best analogies I’ve heard so far: AI is like a chainsaw. It can save you hours (or days) of work if you know how to use it, but if you don’t, you’re likely to waste time or worse, hurt yourself.
That’s a reminder we all need: AI isn’t about replacing jobs or becoming superhuman overnight. It’s about taking on repetitive, time-consuming tasks with tools that can free you up to focus on strategy, creativity, and real customer engagement. It’s not “set it and forget it.” It’s “learn it, test it, and then integrate it.”
Start with AI Literacy, Not Automation
One of the biggest mistakes Mark sees across industries is trying to jump straight to automation without building AI literacy first. If your team doesn’t understand what AI is good at and what it’s not, they’ll either misuse it or avoid it altogether.
His advice? Help your people understand the three major categories of AI:
- Data science – for logic, modeling, and analysis.
- Generative AI – for content, creativity, and ideation.
- Automation – for workflows and repetitive task management.
If you train your team to recognize where these apply to their day-to-day work, the real-time savings start to add up.
Start With Problems, Not Tools
Mark recommends starting your AI journey by asking a simple question: Where are we wasting the most time?
Whether it’s 8 hours a week spent on marketing reports or redundant campaign QA, AI can be layered into those workflows to cut time in half. But it has to start with your business problem, not with what’s trending on LinkedIn this week.
Don’t get distracted by shiny tools. Start by mapping out the repeatable tasks you’re doing every week, and then ask how AI can support that.
Context and Access Matter More Than Prompts
If you’ve ever said, “I tried ChatGPT and it didn’t work,” Mark has a strong take: the tool’s only as good as the context you give it. Having the right internal data, access to your team’s workflows, and clarity on your goal is what makes the difference between an okay answer and a game-changing one.
He also reminded us that AI can help you learn how to use AI. Seriously ask it how to write better prompts, and it will guide you. Train your team to ask better questions, and they’ll get exponentially more out of the tool.
Enterprise Paralysis vs. SMB Agility
Here’s where small businesses shine: you’re more agile. Enterprises get bogged down in red tape, platform limitations, and compliance fears. Meanwhile, you can test new tools like Whisper, Gamma, or Copilot and see what works in your stack. If it saves you time or money, keep it. If not, move on. That’s a huge competitive advantage.
Mark’s take: “You don’t need perfect data. You need momentum.” And small businesses have the luxury of building that momentum fast.
Final Thoughts: Keep it Human, Stay Curious
Perhaps the most important reminder from our chat was this: don’t lose the human in Human First AI.
Yes, AI can save you time and money but it can’t replace your brand’s voice, your team’s insight, or your customer relationships. Use it to amplify, not replace.
And remember, this isn’t a one-and-done shift. This is an evolution. Stay curious. Keep learning. Keep testing. That’s how SMBs punch above their weight and win.
Want help applying AI to your marketing systems? That’s what we do at Avenue9. From content strategy to campaign automation, we’ll help you hone your message and amplify it with AI, without losing your voice or your sanity.
📩 Let’s talk: www.avenue9.com
