AI Is a Tool. We're All Learning How to Use It.
Updated: Sep 4
Artificial intelligence is moving quickly.
For business owners, that can make the conversation feel a little overwhelming. There are new tools, new headlines, and new predictions seemingly every day. Some people see AI as the future. Others see it as a threat to jobs, businesses, and the way we've always worked.
We think the reality is a little more practical. AI is a tool. And like any tool, its value depends on how you use it.
That's the focus of a recent conversation between Gaalswyk Holdings co-founders Brady Gaalswyk and Chris Gaalswyk. In the video, they talk about where they see AI fitting into business. They don't think it changes the fundamentals of building a great company.
Watch: Discussing AI—It's a Tool
In this short conversation, Brady and Chris share their perspective on AI and what they're learning as business owners.
The conversation isn't about predicting exactly where AI is headed. It's about thinking practically about where it can help today.
A tool, not a replacement for leadership
There is a lot of conversation around what AI might replace. We think there's another question worth asking: How can AI help people do their work better?
AI can help businesses process information faster, automate repetitive tasks, analyze data, and make certain kinds of work more efficient. Those capabilities can be valuable, particularly for smaller businesses where time and resources are limited.
But technology doesn't eliminate the need for good judgment. It doesn't replace the experience that comes from knowing your customers. It doesn't build trust with an employee or make a difficult leadership decision. It doesn't understand the history and culture of a company in the same way the people who have built it do.
Those things still matter. And in many ways, they may matter even more as technology continues to change.
The opportunity for business owners
For business owners, we don't think the question is whether to become an "AI company."
The better question might be: Where could this tool make our business better?
Maybe it's helping an employee save a few hours each week. Maybe it's improving how information is organized. Maybe it's helping a team think through a problem or get to a first draft faster.
The opportunities will look different from business to business. That's why curiosity matters.
Business owners don't necessarily need to understand every new AI tool or predict what the technology will look like five years from now. But they should be willing to explore it, ask questions, experiment, and figure out where it can create real value.
Technology changes. People still matter.
This is something we think about a lot at Gaalswyk Holdings.
We spend our time talking with founders about the future of their businesses. Not just the next quarter, but the next generation.
AI is becoming part of those conversations because technology will continue to influence how businesses operate and compete. But when we think about what makes a business valuable over the long term, the fundamentals haven't changed.
Great businesses are built by capable people.
They have strong relationships with customers.
They develop thoughtful leaders.
They build cultures where good people want to work.
They earn trust over time.
Those things don't become less important because new technology arrives. If anything, they become more important.
The businesses that figure out how to use new tools while staying grounded in what makes them who they are will be in a strong position for whatever comes next.
We're still learning too.
We don't have all the answers. We're learning about AI just like everyone else. But we think that's part of the point. You don't have to wait until you have everything figured out to start paying attention.
Be curious. Try things. Ask good questions. Find the places where the technology can genuinely help.
Then keep doing the things that technology can't replace: leading people, building relationships, making good decisions, and taking care of the business you've worked hard to build.
AI is a tool. We're all learning how to use it. And we think that's a pretty good place to start.
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