Let me start by saying this: I love AI. I use it daily. Depending on which machine I’m on and what my focus is, Copilot, ChatGPT or Midjourney are almost always running. It helps me stay organized, communicate clearly, and build better tools for creatives and small businesses. But as someone who’s been in tech for decades, I also see what’s lurking in the background – and it’s not all progress.

Two Paths Forward

We’re at a crossroads. Companies have two choices when it comes to AI:

1. Let AI do anything and everything it can.
This is the path I see large corporations sprinting down. Replace customer service reps with bots. Replace sales agents. Replace warehouse workers, designers, coders – anyone whose job can be automated. Why? Because it pads the bottom line and boosts executive salaries.

But here’s the problem: this leads to universal bad service. When you remove the human element from complex interactions, resolution takes longer. Empathy disappears. Customers get stuck in loops. And trust erodes.

2. Use AI responsibly – as a tool, not an employee.
This is the path I’ve chosen at SOHO Admin Force. AI helps me write, troubleshoot, and organize. It powers interactive tools like My World GPT and SOHO Assist. But it doesn’t replace the human touch. It doesn’t make decisions. It doesn’t talk to customers on its own.

Used responsibly, AI is incredible. It saves time. It boosts creativity. It helps small businesses punch above their weight. But it should never be the face of your company.

The Walmart-OpenAI Deal: A Warning Sign

The recent Walmart–OpenAI collaboration is a red flag. It opens the door to turning ChatGPT into another ad-saturated search engine, where paid placements dominate and brand influence clouds every answer.

That saddens me. One of the things I love most about AI chats right now is the lack of brand bias. You ask a question, you get an answer – not a sales pitch.

If we let AI become just another marketing channel, we lose the clarity and curiosity that make it valuable.

Where This Plays into SOHO Admin Force

Before launching SOHO Admin Force, I spent years studying and preparing. One of the most important courses I took was on AI Governance and Ethics. That course shaped how I use AI – and how I refuse to misuse it.

I believe companies, large and small, need ethical AI regulations to control greed. Because beyond poor service and job displacement, there’s a bigger risk: fragility.

Imagine this: you build your entire workforce around AI. You let go or repurpose your trained employees. Then the government steps in – like it did with TikTok – and decides AI needs to be outlawed or heavily restricted.

Where does that leave you? Scrambling to rebuild. Tarnishing your reputation. Losing customer trust while you try to fix what you broke.

That’s not just bad business. That’s reckless.

So, Where Is SOHO on All This?

Let me be clear: SOHO Admin Force is not an AI development company. Our main business focus is Salesforce administration. SOHO Assist and its sister GPTs – My Resume and My World – are add-on tools. ChatGPT is already here. It’s real. It’s a great tool. All we’re doing is customizing it to make your work resources easier to access.

As for our workforce? I have no intention of using AI as a customer service resource.

Our support chat is a live person – that’s why it’s not 24/7.
Our sales and customer service emails? Also, a live person.
If we talk on the phone? You guessed it – live person.

Will we use AI tools? Absolutely. That’s why they’re there.
But as a matter of ethics, you have to draw the line somewhere.
Otherwise, the world becomes a very ugly place to do business in.

Final Thoughts

In my best Jerry Springer voice, “AI is here to stay. That’s not the question. The question is: How will we use it?

Will we chase efficiency at the cost of empathy? Or will we build tools that support real people doing real work?

I know where I stand. And if you’re building something with heart, I hope you’ll stand with me.”

What are your thoughts on AI in business?

Are you using it? Avoiding it? Wrestling with how to make it work responsibly?
Drop a comment, send a message, or reach out – I’d love to hear how you’re navigating this new frontier.

Happy Wednesday,

Jeff