Notes fromthe work itself.
Practical writing on AI operations, automation and running a business with systems that actually work. Case studies from our own builds, plus plain-language explainers with sources you can check.
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Hermes Agent: A Practical Guide for Small Business Automation
Hermes Agent is an open-source AI tool that learns from tasks and runs scheduled automations on affordable infrastructure.
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Mika: An On‑Device AI Agent That Can Automate Android Tasks for Small Businesses
Mika lets Android phones run apps and browse the web on a hidden screen, freeing owners to focus on their business while routine digital work is handled automatically.
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Activepieces: Open-Source AI Workflow Automation for Small Business
Activepieces is an open-source Zapier alternative with built-in AI agents and MCP servers, letting small businesses automate tasks without monthly fees.
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AI Spending Stalls: What It Means for Your Business
Ramp data shows AI spending flatlined despite rising usage. Price cuts and cost controls are reshaping the market for small businesses.
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From One Desk Request to an Expanding AI Research Workflow
How a simple request for standing desk prices evolved into a structured AI research workflow, and what that means for small business operations.
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What NYT Cooking’s AI Assistant Means for Your Small Business
NYT Cooking’s new AI tool adapts recipes to available ingredients, offering a model for how small businesses can use AI to reduce waste and streamline operations.
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Meta Backs Down: What the AI Terms Reversal Means for Your Business
Meta paused its controversial terms update that would have forced Facebook Page owners to allow AI training on linked content.
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OpenAI’s New Cybersecurity Model: What Small Business Owners Need to Know
OpenAI released ChatGPT Cyber. But one model isn’t enough for small business defenses.
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What the 2026 Data Center Backlash Means for Your Small Business
Voters rejected AI data center expansion in the 2026 midterms. Here’s how that affects your costs and access to AI tools.
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Perplexity Launches Always-On AI Teammates for Small Business Workflows
Perplexity’s new Teammates are always-on AI agents that can handle multiple tasks simultaneously, pulling from your existing tools.
Find your most promising first project.
The free AI Opportunity Snapshot takes about two minutes and points at the places automation is most likely to pay off.