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why ChatGPT and AI can be great tools, but not a replacement for a human VA

From online tools such as chatbots to self-service checkouts, we are surrounded by technological advances that (mostly) make tasks easier. One AI-led piece of coding and software, ChatGPT, has been hitting the tech news hard lately and if you are on LinkedIn you’ll know it is very much like Marmite. Some people love it and others really don’t.

As Virtual Assistants working remotely across different businesses, we keep abreast of new developments. While they can’t replace a real person, we shouldn’t dismiss tools such as ChatGPT out of hand. They definitely warrant further investigation.

As expert Virtual Assistants based in North Yorkshire, we help our clients with what they and their businesses need most. This varies from client to client but one constant benefit, intentional or otherwise, is saved time. With this in mind, we use all sorts of tools, tricks and tips to get the job done, reducing the load on existing staff and streamlining processes to promote greater efficiency. Paying a VA to help in this way can actually result is considerable savings, depending on the tasks they take on for you.

What is ChatGPT?

There are a lot of technical explanations around what ChatGPT is and how it works. In layman’s terms it is an artificial intelligence chatbot that has been coded to use language models and adapt to information that is entered by the user. Formally launched in November 2022, ChatGPT is already being used in many ways, particularly in business.

What is AI good for?

In business, artificial intelligence is great for a number of things, particularly when it comes to creating content and enhancing communication with clients. It is commonly used for overcoming writer’s block, gaining inspiration, putting together titles, rewording text and putting together outlines for documents and meetings.

As Virtual Assistants we champion tools and processes that simplify and streamline processes and ultimately save time, money and resources. ChatGPT may be Marmite to some but here at Business Owl, we recognise both the benefits and the limitations of these types of tools.

The human element

Chat GPT and AI are great tools and can save a lot of time, especially when creating content for social media or longer form copy for business. Here at Business Owl, we are very keen on saving our clients time and hassle and where we can streamline a process or where it makes sense to use a tool, we will.

Automated chatbots and similar tools can be useful to let website or social media visitors know that their message has been seen or can answer simple questions. What ChatGPT can’t do is inject the human element. When using tools like these, the quality of what you get depends on what you input, and how the chatbot was originally coded. As long as you are aware of the limitations of tools such as ChatGPT, there’s no reason you can’t use them in your business.

Jen Workman, Business Owl Founder and Virtual Assistant

In summary

Our experience of these tools so far has been mainly positive but we see them as tools, not as real people with years of experience and knowledge about specific businesses and their needs. What ChatGPT doesn’t do is understand nuance, humour and sometimes struggles with context. When communicating with clients, it’s important for the tone of voice to be consistent and the messaging clear and on brand. A great tool but not a replacement for a real person.

Do you use ChatGPT or other AI in your business? If you want to continue the conversion you can find us over on LinkedIn. If you want to know more about how we use many tools and our years of experience to help businesses in need, we’d be happy to chat.

This article was written by Jen Workman, VA and Founder of Business Owl. We are expert Virtual Assistants based in North Yorkshire. We support the legal sector, small businesses and entrepreneurs nationally. To discuss how we can provide support for your business get in touch with us for a complimentary chat at 07970 955535 or jen@businessowl.co.uk.