Paul Allen was the Co-Founder of Ancestry.com and is currently the Founder of SOAR AI

Mike Montague interviews Paul Allen, CEO of SOAR AI and former co-founder of Ancestry.com to unpack how AI can drive meaningful growth for SMBs. Paul has spent years at the forefront of tech and entrepreneurship. He shed light on how AI can uplift humanity while transforming business operations.

Here are four actionable takeaways from our conversation that marketers and business owners can start implementing today:

1. AI Can Amplify Human Potential — Not Replace It

Paul emphasized a fundamental shift in AI’s role: rather than designing AI to replace human interaction, focus on leveraging it to enhance and repurpose those interactions. SOAR’s AI tools record and transcribe human meetings, turning valuable conversations into actionable insights, marketing content, and even product development plans.

Human-First Takeaway:

• Record and analyze client calls, sales meetings, and brainstorming sessions. Use AI transcription tools to surface ideas and identify patterns that can shape new marketing campaigns or refine messaging.
• Repurpose interactions into multiple content formats — blogs, podcasts, or case studies — extending the life and value of human-led conversations.

2. Real-Time Feedback and Training Can Drive Performance

Paul highlighted how AI can bridge the gap between training and execution. Traditionally, employees attend training sessions but lack real-time feedback when applying what they’ve learned. AI can now analyze meetings or sales calls, pinpointing missed steps in processes and offering real-time suggestions.

Human-First Takeaway:

• Implement AI tools that monitor and provide feedback on sales calls, customer service interactions, and marketing pitches. This immediate feedback loop accelerates skill development and ensures teams consistently follow best practices.
• For SMBs, invest in AI-driven training assistants that reinforce methodologies (like Sandler sales techniques) during live client engagements, not just in the classroom.

3. AI Opens New Doors for Analyzing and Scaling Data

Paul discussed how SOAR’s Citizen Portal AI aggregates and transcribes millions of hours of civic meetings, generating insights from government discussions that were previously untapped. This principle applies directly to SMBs — vast amounts of customer data, sales calls, and internal meetings hold hidden opportunities.

Human-First Takeaway:

• Use AI to analyze past marketing campaigns, customer feedback, and market data at scale. Look for patterns in successful campaigns or pain points from customer service transcripts.
• Set up AI-driven content audits to identify underperforming assets or recurring themes that can guide new content strategies.

4. Automation and AI Agents Can Handle the Heavy Lifting

Paul’s team at SOAR is developing AI agents that automatically execute tasks assigned during meetings. From summarizing discussions to drafting follow-ups, AI can reduce the operational burden on teams, allowing marketers to focus on strategy and creativity.

Human-First Takeaway:

• Automate routine tasks like meeting summaries, email follow-ups, and data entry using AI tools. This frees up valuable time for more strategic initiatives.
• Explore if-this-then-that (IFTTT) AI workflows to trigger marketing actions based on data insights. For example, if AI detects a lead’s high engagement during a webinar, automatically trigger a personalized follow-up email.

The Bigger Picture: AI and the Democratization of Opportunity

One of Paul’s most compelling points was the potential for decentralized, open-source AI to empower small businesses and individuals. Rather than consolidating power in a few trillion-dollar companies, Paul envisions a future where localized AI tools empower SMBs to compete at scale. This shift levels the playing field, offering SMBs affordable access to advanced AI tools.

Human-First Takeaway:

• Invest in open-source AI tools or affordable AI platforms tailored to small businesses. Tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, and Descript offer enterprise-level capabilities without enterprise-level pricing.
• Encourage experimentation with AI-driven community engagement tools that allow SMBs to actively participate in civic, educational, and industry discussions.

Uplifting Our Humanity with AI

Paul’s vision is clear — AI should be a tool for good, amplifying our creativity, productivity, and collective potential. For marketers and SMBs, the key lies in harnessing AI to enhance human-driven initiatives rather than replace them.

At Avenue 9, we share this belief. AI is here to elevate your marketing, not take it over. If you’re ready to explore how AI can amplify your efforts, reach out. Let’s build a future that’s not just artificial, but human-first.