What work have you actually handed over?
Opening a chatbot is different from changing how a task gets done. Name one recurring job you want help with. Make it specific enough that you can tell whether the output is usable.
Is the tool worth what it costs?
Try the job with the access you already have. If a limitation gets in the way, compare the next option against that need. A paid subscription is not proof of progress, and a free tool is not proof that you are standing still.
What changed after a month?
Compare the time, quality, and effort before and after the trial. Include the checking and corrections you still do yourself. Keep the setup if it earns its place. Add another job only after the first works. The useful distinction is whether the work improved, not whether you can say you bought AI.
Sources
Sources
- JPMorgan Chase Institute: understanding the use of AI among small businesses (published 14 April 2026). 17.7% adoption by December 2025, from payment data across more than 4.6 million small businesses, 2019 to 2025.
- Jeff Fargo, Fargo Factor Insight: Do Not Automate a Bad Process
Transcript
Verbatim from the Fargo Walks clip, as recorded.
Everybody claims they're using AI. Almost nobody is paying for it. JPMorgan Chase tracked real transactions. Less than 1 in 5 small businesses have invested a dollar in AI. Playing around with a free chat bot is not a relevant AI strategy. The gap is you investing in paid AI against your competitors who are only talking about it. I'm Jeff Fargo. I help businesses streamline and scale with AI. Go forth.