AI & Us: The New Rules of Work and Life. Risk & Readiness Part 3

AI isn’t coming for your job. But it is coming for your workflow.

Editor’s note: This is part 3 of a three part series. Part1 and 2 as follows: Redefining Work: Leadership, Meaning, and AI- Part 1, Create a Personal Roadmap for the AI Era- Part 2

What does AI mean for small businesses, solo entrepreneurs, and everyday professionals trying to make life and work easier? While AI has applications that are only limited by our imagination, what are the risks? Recently, I saw a webinar on how AI will turn our brains into mush, claiming that it will diminish critical thinking skills, and another Computerworld contributor argued that AI makes smart people smarter. Opinions are on either side of the spectrum, and both sides have little research to support their opinions because AI is so new that it is difficult to substantiate either side. Let’s focus on how AI can help to make your business more innovative and more efficient. While also looking at some of the risks that are arising from using AI in your industry.

While AI offers a wide range of applications, its potential is often constrained by our ability to leverage it effectively, and we are seeing evidence of just that – the wrong investment in AI. When you consider that US companies (enterprise) have invested between $35 billion and $40 billion in generative AI (genAI) projects, but most of these are not taking off, according to a report from MIT’s NANDA initiative, with only 5% of these efforts contributing to rapid revenue growth.

Most of us are working hard to meet deadlines, provide better customer experiences, grow our revenue, and be more efficient so that we get to go home on time. In that context, AI can assist us through tools that we can tap into right nowto help us make smarter decisions and compete more effectively. To back that up, studies find that the biggest returns on AI are directly related to administrative and back-office automation and streamlining internal processes.

The New Rules of Work

The Federal Government is giving more regulatory responsibility over AI to individual states, in the hopes of moving toward less regulation to drive AI innovation and economic growth. California will implement new rules governing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in employment decision-making starting October 1, 2025. These rules aim to mitigate discrimination against applicants or employees. We can expect to see more of this kind of safeguard interpreted in different ways, state by state.

Let’s look at how AI can help in simple ways, whether you’re a graphic designer in Miami, a restaurant owner in San Antonio, or running a marketing agency from your laptop in Bogotá:

• Time is THE scarcest resource. AI can, for example, help you automate repetitive tasks like summarizing long documents. With the right prompts and the right tools, AI can compress a 2-hour job into 20 minutes.
• Decision fatigue is real. AI can reduce the amount of “human” work that is required to analyze data from analytics platforms. Looking at the data this way can help small businesses optimize pricing, sales, and customer behavior without needing extra staff; in this instance, AI is your extra staff.
• Creativity is still human and your superpower. AI can act as your creative sidekick—brainstorming names, generating first drafts, producing training videos from text, or building visual mockups that save you time and money.

The bottom line? The most valuable workers and business owners today are not just “AI users”—they’re AI integrators. They know how to combine their human intuition with machine support to work smarter, not harder, because AI + Human is better than AI or humans on their own 🙂

The Risks: What We Can’t Afford to Ignore

With all its promise, AI also comes with risks—and ignoring them is not an option, especially for small businesses.

• Privacy and data misuse. Be aware of the platforms you use; this is the wild, wild west. Free tools may not adequately protect your data. Vet your vendors, read the terms, and never, ever upload sensitive client information into an AI platform that doesn’t comply with privacy terms.
• Bias and misinformation. While AI is a co-pilot, not an autopilot, especially when it comes to hiring, content creation, or decision-making that affects real people. Never rely entirely on AI; do your research, because errors, commissions, and discrimination are highly likely. Make sure that you are clear on compliance to avoid legal liabilities.
• Dependency without understanding. Learn, learn, learn. Don’t become reliant on a tool you don’t understand. Take the time to learn how it works. Think of AI like a GPS—it’s there to help, but you still need to know how to drive.

How Are Real People Using AI?

The New York Times recently did a feature on how people are using AI in real life. Here are some interesting applications.

1. Identify and categorize plants.
2. Write Code – Anthropic’s Claude Code.
3. Check legal documents.
4. Help humans answer more calls at a call center.
5. Help translate texts from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Readiness

The good news is that being able to adopt AI doesn’t require any great technical skills; you just need a fair amount of curiosity. Here’s some ideas on how to begin:

1. Audit your workflows. What tasks eat up time every week? Where do you feel bottlenecks or burnout? That’s where AI can help. Start researching AI tools that can help, start small.
2. Start slow and stay curious. Tools like ChatGPT, Canva’s Magic Studio and Notion AI are easy on-ramps. Use them to outline reports, draft emails, or automate scheduling.
3. Upskill yourself and your team. AI literacy is fast becoming as important as digital literacy. A few hours of online learning can change the way you work forever. Keeping up with AI innovation is going to require that you commit to lifelong learning
4. Lean into experimentation. The most prepared leaders aren’t the ones with all the answers—they’re the ones willing to try, test, and adapt quickly. Remember the Silicone Valley motto – Fail fast, make sure it is in low-risk environments.

A Call to the Latino Business Community

As Latino entrepreneurs and professionals, we’ve always been innovators. We’ve turned side hustles into success stories, built cross-border businesses, and led with heart, hustle, and resilience. Now is the time to apply that same spirit to AI.

Let’s not wait for the “perfect” solution. Let’s use what’s available now—intelligently and responsibly—to grow stronger businesses, reduce stress, and create more opportunity in our communities.

AI isn’t coming for your job. But it is coming for your workflow. And that can be a beautiful thing—if you’re ready.

Related content:

Redefining Work: Leadership, Meaning, and AI- Part 1

Create a Personal Roadmap for the AI Era- Part 2

Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, Tips & Strategies for Small Business Success