Written by LiveLink
July 25th 2025

New Trends in AI (as of today!)

The world of AI can sound a bit like science fiction, can’t it? All these buzzwords flying around. Machine learning, ChatGPT, generative AI, automation, virtual assistants… it can feel a bit overwhelming. If you’re a small business owner, you might be thinking, “Sounds clever, but how does this help me?”

You’re not alone. And more importantly, you don’t need to be a tech wizard to make AI work for you. In this blog, we’ll look at the latest trends in AI in a friendly, no-jargon kind of way and show you how you can actually use them in your business (without needing a degree in computer science).

First Things First: What Is AI, Really?

AI stands for artificial intelligence, and it’s just a fancy way of saying that computers can now do things that normally require human thinking like understanding language, spotting patterns, or even writing content.

It doesn’t mean robots taking over your business. It means tools that can help you save time, work smarter, and maybe even make life a bit easier.

Now let’s explore the latest trends and how you can use them.

Generative AI – Creating Content in Seconds

The Trend:

One of the biggest breakthroughs in AI recently is what’s called generative AI. This just means AI tools that can generate things like text, images, or even videos  based on a prompt you give them.

You’ve probably heard of ChatGPT or Google Gemini. These are types of generative AI. You type in a question or ask them to do something (like “write me a customer email” or “summarise this blog”), and they get it done in seconds.

How You Can Use It:

• Write social media posts (you just give it a topic)

• Draft emails to customers

• Create blog content or product descriptions

• Summarise long documents into easy-to-digest notes

It’s like having a junior marketing assistant who’s always on hand and never takes a tea break.

🔧 Try it: Tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Copilot are free or low-cost. Just start with a simple prompt like: “Write a friendly Instagram caption for my bakery’s new sourdough loaf.”

AI for Customer Service – Smarter (and Faster) Replies

The Trend:

AI chatbots have become a lot more helpful in the past year. They’re not just answering FAQs anymore. They can now understand more complex queries and even personalise their responses based on customer data.

How You Can Use It:

• Add a chatbot to your website to answer common customer questions instantly

• Set up AI-powered email replies that can respond to enquiries when you’re busy

• Use AI phone answering tools that can take messages, book appointments, or direct calls. A blend of AI and real humans is the sweet spot.

This means you don’t have to be glued to your inbox or phone all day. AI helps you give great customer service even when you’re not available.

🔧 Try it: Check out tools like Tidio, Intercom, or ManyChat (great for Facebook and Instagram DMs). We use Tidio.

AI-Powered Marketing Tools – Smarter Campaigns, Less Work

The Trend:

Marketing platforms are now packing AI into their systems so you don’t need to be a marketing guru to run effective campaigns.

From writing ad copy to picking the best time to post, AI is becoming your behind-the-scenes marketing brain.

How You Can Use It:

• Automatically create ads for Facebook, Instagram, or Google

• Optimise your email subject lines so more people open them

• Find out what kind of content your audience likes based on trends and analytics

Even tools like Canva (for graphics) and Mailchimp (for email newsletters) now have AI features that can speed up your work and improve results.

🔧 Try it: Canva’s “Magic Write” can help with design ideas and text, while Mailchimp’s AI can suggest better send times or email formats.

Voice Assistants & Smart Scheduling – Get Admin Help Without Hiring

The Trend:

AI-powered voice assistants and scheduling tools are on the rise. Think of them as your digital PA ready to manage your diary, set reminders, or even transcribe meetings.

How You Can Use It:

• Book appointments automatically via tools like Calendly with AI add-ons

• Dictate emails or notes using voice-to-text tools (perfect if you’re always on the go)

• Get meeting summaries from Zoom or Microsoft Teams without taking notes

This is brilliant if you’re juggling a lot and want to stay organised without adding more to your plate.

🔧 Try it: Tools like Otter.ai or Fireflies.ai record and summarise meetings for you. Google Calendar now has smart suggestions and reminders too. Then, if you put the transcript into ChatGPT/Claude, with the right prompts, it will generate a proposal or quote in seconds.

AI for Visual Content – Make Eye-Catching Designs (No Graphic Design Skills Needed)

The Trend:

You don’t need to hire a designer to make your business look good anymore. AI can now help you create logos, social media graphics, product images and even generate brand-new photos from scratch.

How You Can Use It:

• Generate social media posts or posters from a basic idea

• Touch up or remove backgrounds from photos in one click

• Create product mock-ups or marketing images quickly

This is perfect if you want professional-looking visuals but don’t have the budget (or time) to hire someone.

🔧 Try it: Canva, Adobe Express, and Looka (for logos) are all easy to use and have AI tools built in.

AI for Data & Insights – Make Sense of the Numbers

The Trend:

AI is getting better at spotting trends in your data. Even the stuff you might not notice. This is especially handy when you’re too busy running your business to dig through spreadsheets.

How You Can Use It:

• Track your sales patterns and see what’s working

• Get smart suggestions for pricing, promotions, or products

• Understand customer behaviour more clearly

Many accounting and e-commerce tools now have built-in AI insights to help you make smarter decisions without the guesswork.

🔧 Try it: QuickBooks, Shopify, and even Google Analytics now have AI summaries or recommendations.

But What About Privacy and Ethics?

When using AI, especially tools that handle customer data, it’s important to:

• Make sure you’re following GDPR rules

• Be transparent if customers are talking to a bot

• Avoid sharing sensitive info with AI tools unless you’re sure it’s safe

Stick to reputable platforms, and always check their privacy policies. A little caution goes a long way.

So… Should You Be Using AI?

Short answer: yes, but only where it helps you.

You don’t need to jump on every trend or overhaul your whole business overnight. Start small. Pick one or two tools that solve a real problem for you. Maybe that’s saving time on emails, making your social media easier, or getting help with customer replies.

Think of AI not as a replacement for your hard work, but as a helping hand. Something that works with you, so you can focus on what really matters.

And guess what? This was written in ChatGPT with a few edits by me, a human.