Artificial intelligence is reshaping how companies operate, innovate, and compete. Yet many leaders still ask the same question: How do we actually start using AI in our business?
In this Create Your News interview, AI expert Kesha Williams breaks down practical, beginner-friendly steps for AI adoption, digital readiness, and the rise of AI agents in the workplace.
Watch the Create Your News Podcast Here
Start With the Business Problem
When asked what the very first step should be for any company beginning its AI journey, Williams went straight to the core.
“I would recommend starting with the business problem,” Williams said. “A lot of organizations like to start with tools like ChatGPT without really thinking about what the business problem is they’re trying to solve and what that end result for the business will be.”
After a company clearly identifies the business problem it wants to solve, Williams explained that the next step should be a full AI assessment.
This includes evaluating the quality of your data, the strength of your technical infrastructure, and the skillsets within your team. She emphasized the importance of understanding what resources you have today and planning how to upskill your people so they can support and maintain any AI solution you implement.
Your Digital Presence Must Be Machine Readable
One of Williams’s most actionable insights focused on Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and how businesses show up inside AI platforms. She emphasized that companies need to structure their online presence in a way that AI systems can easily read and understand.
Key GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) Tips:
- Prioritize text-rich content on your website rather than relying on images to communicate essential information.
- Keep your Google Business Profile accurate and up to date, since AI models heavily draw from publicly available business data.
- Add text-based FAQs that explain your company, services, and products in clear, descriptive language.
By maintaining a clean and structured digital footprint, a company can ensure that large language models accurately represent its brand based on the information it makes available.
AI Agents Are the Next Workplace Shift
Perhaps the most forward-looking part of Williams’s conversation focused on AI agents, autonomous assistants capable of real-world actions.
“AI agents are very exciting because they’re different from that typical chat bot experience,” Williams said.
Williams emphasized that these tools are not meant to replace employees, but to enhance and support the work people do. Looking ahead, she noted that leaders will soon find themselves managing both humans and AI agents, a shift that will require new approaches to leadership and team dynamics.
Do Not Fear AI. Experiment With It.
Williams closed with encouragement for the hesitant.
“I don’t want people to be afraid, but be excited of what this generative AI and AI technology can do,” Williams said. “Go in there and just start to play around with it, experiment with it, and then you’ll start to see more ways that you can use it…and then you’ll be hooked.”
Watch the Create Your News Podcast Here
Top Takeaways for Business Leaders
- Start with the business problem, not the tool.
- Conduct an AI assessment to understand your data, infrastructure, and team readiness.
- Make your entire digital presence machine readable to appear in AI search results.
- Pay attention to AI agents, which are evolving into real workplace teammates.
- Do not fear AI. Approach it with curiosity and a willingness to learn.
Listen to the full Create Your News Podcast episode with Kesha Williams
