How to Bridge the Gap Between AI and Traditional Industries: Insights from CAIO Consultant Karl Yeh

The Reality of AI in Business Today

Are you wondering how to use AI in your business? Do you feel like AI might be too complex or not practical for your industry? Many business owners feel the same way. In our latest podcast episode, we talked with Karl Yeh, an AI consultant who works with traditional businesses. Karl shared real insights about how companies are using AI right now - not in theory, but in actual day-to-day operations.

Karl focuses on helping medium-sized businesses in traditional industries like oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, and real estate. These aren't tech companies rushing to adopt the latest AI tools. They're regular businesses looking for practical ways to improve.

The Personalized Nature of AI Implementation

One of the most interesting insights from our conversation was how personalized AI needs to be for each business.

AI is very personalized to the individual, personalized to the team, personalized to the company, and personalized to the industry, Karl says.

This means you can't just copy what another business is doing with AI. The same two people in an organization with the same role could use AI very differently because it helps them in specific ways.

Starting with Business Goals, Not AI

When Karl works with clients, he doesn't lead with AI. Instead, he starts by understanding their business goals:

• What are your quarter goals?

• What are your annual goals?

• What are the things from a business perspective you are focused on?

• Where do you think AI can help?

This approach ensures that AI solves real business problems rather than being technology for its own sake.

Finding AI Opportunities in Every Business

Karl and his team spend time with different departments in a company to understand their processes. They ask people about the boring, the mundane, and the things that you really hate doing but you have to do week in, week out.

What they find is that every business has similar pain points:

• Repetitive emails

• Weekly reporting

• Unclear data metrics

These repetitive, time-consuming tasks are perfect candidates for AI enhancement.

The Local Approach to AI Consulting

Interestingly, Karl and his partner focus on working with local businesses in their area (Calgary, Alberta). They give presentations to chambers of commerce, industry associations, and rotary clubs.

This local, in-person approach has been remarkably effective:

What we found is we close much higher in person than virtually. It's not even close. Like sitting down with people and talking about AI, there's just something about it that just works for us.

This challenges the idea that everything in the tech world needs to be global and scalable.

Piloting Before Scaling

Karl recommends starting with 3-5 pilot projects rather than trying to implement AI across an entire organization at once.

We don't want to scare anybody, and we want to ensure that if it doesn't work, it's super simple to fold up. But if it does work, then we have another conversation: how would you like to scale this?

This approach reduces risk while still offering high potential for improvement.

Managing Expectations About AI

A big part of Karl's job is managing expectations about what AI can actually do today versus what might be possible in the future.

When clients have grand expectations, Karl sometimes has to say:

No, because your expectation of what we can deliver - yes, we could take your money and take the contract, but it won't help you because you have more of a strategy problem, a marketing problem, a business operation problem, an HR problem.

This honesty builds trust and ensures clients get real value from their AI investments.

Want to Try AI in Your Business?

If you're thinking about how AI might help your business, the Chief AI Officer community is a great place to start. For just $1, you can access custom tools, live calls, and business consulting advice.

Ready to start your AI journey? Join our FREE AI Authority Challenge and learn how to leverage AI in your business immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can AI really improve my business processes?

Most businesses see a 10-40% improvement in efficiency when implementing AI correctly. While there are occasionally outliers that see 80% improvement, the 10-40% range is consistently achievable and significant enough to make a real difference.

Do I need technical expertise to implement AI in my business?

No, you don't need to be a technical expert. What's more important is understanding your business processes and identifying where AI could help. Many AI consultants can guide you through the process and provide training for your team.

Is AI only for tech companies or large enterprises?

Absolutely not. Traditional businesses in industries like manufacturing, construction, oil and gas, and real estate are successfully implementing AI. Medium-sized businesses (under 500 employees) often see great results because they can move faster than large enterprises.

How should I start with AI in my business?

Start with a strategy session to understand your business goals and identify 3-5 pilot projects where AI could make a difference. Start small, measure results, and then scale what works. This reduces risk while still offering significant potential benefits.

Will AI replace my employees?

The goal of implementing AI should be to make your employees more efficient, not replace them. As Karl explains, it's about giving people back time by automating repetitive tasks so they can focus on higher-value work.

How quickly will I see results from AI implementation?

With the right approach, you can see results from pilot projects within weeks or months. However, it's important to have realistic expectations and understand that AI implementation is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix.