Frequently asked questions
What is the AI workshop for small business owners?
It's a 3-hour AI install workshop run by Carl Taylor of Automation Agency. You do it on demand, starting the moment you book, and your ticket includes a seat at a live session, the next one or any after it. You set up your first (or next) AI employee: an AI Business Brain that trains ChatGPT or Claude on your customers, your offers and your voice, and a named Executive Assistant whose first job is briefing you each morning. It costs $97 USD.
I already have memory turned on. Why do I need a Brain?
Memory keeps bits of your chats, inside one app. Your Brain is the full onboarding pack, built on purpose, and it's yours. It works in Claude, ChatGPT and whatever comes next, so every AI you use works from the same page.
I already have a daily briefing. Is this still worth it?
Yes. Bring it. We check it against our best practice and upgrade it to work from your Brain, so it knows what matters to your business and gets more useful over time.
What is an AI Business Brain?
It's a folder of files on your own computer that holds what AI needs to know about your business: your brand voice, your ideal customer, your products and offers, and your brand style. Your AI reads it before it answers. You own the files, and they work with Claude or ChatGPT.
Is AI good enough to hand real work to?
Out of the box, usually not. Generic AI gives generic work because nobody has properly set it up on your business. In a 2026 Bluevine survey, 78% of small business owners said they don't fully trust AI with even low-level tasks unsupervised. Once it has your customers, offers and voice to work from, the first draft gets close enough that you review it and send it. You still check it, the same way you'd check a new team member's work.
Can AI do the work I'd otherwise hire someone for?
Some of it, yes. First drafts of emails and content, inbox triage, follow-ups, briefings and research are all realistic. The workshop sets up the foundation and your first working AI employee. Handing over whole roles takes longer. When you're ready for that, we can help.
I've done other AI courses. How is this different?
Most AI training teaches you things and leaves the doing to you. This isn't a course to sit through. You get files to install and I walk you through exactly what to do with them, step by step, and you bring your questions to the live session. You finish the call with your AI employee on the job.
I've already set a few things up myself. Is this still for me?
Yes. People arrive with all sorts. A project, some saved prompts, sometimes a daily briefing that's already running. Keep what works. What's usually missing is the Brain underneath it and the structure that ties it together.
I've barely started with AI. Is this too advanced?
No. Most people who come tell me they're at Level 1. You answer questions about your own business and the files do the building.
Does the workshop work with ChatGPT, or only Claude?
Both. Claude is what we recommend and what Carl uses live, and ChatGPT works too. Claude (made by Anthropic) and ChatGPT (made by OpenAI) are the AI that runs your Brain. We don't resell either or charge a markup. You pay them directly, and your Brain comes with you if you switch.
Do I need any tech setup before the workshop?
Three things: a computer (desktop or laptop, not a phone or tablet), a paid Claude or ChatGPT account, and a willingness to type. Claude Max ($100/month) is the pick if you're going to use AI seriously in your business, with Claude Pro ($20/month) as the minimum. If you already pay for ChatGPT, you can use that. The free tiers won't get you through the build. We send you a setup link the moment you register.
I'm not technical. Will I keep up?
Yes. You answer questions about your own business and the toolkit does the building. If you get stuck, we sort it out live. At the last two workshops the person who rated themselves lowest on experience finished first.
Will this be another thing I have to maintain?
You build the foundation in the room. As your business changes, you add to it, the same way a good team member keeps learning. The toolkit you keep does that with you.
Do I have to come to the live session?
No. The full install is yours the moment you book, and plenty of people finish it on their own before the live session. The live session is there if you want to finish it with me, get unstuck, or ask questions while you build. Can't make the next one? Your seat carries over to any future live session.
What if I don't get value from the workshop?
Email us within 7 days, refund. No conditions, no negotiation. Your time matters more than $97 USD to us.
Is there a sales pitch?
The three hours are spent installing. At the end I show you the next step for people who want to hand over more of their business. That's the Lab, and it starts with a 6 week AI Accelerator Sprint. Take it or leave it. What you install in the workshop is yours and it keeps working.
Can I bring my operations person or assistant?
Yes. Add them to the registration. Same $97 USD covers one business owner plus one team member.
What if I'm in a non-services business?
The Brain works for most businesses. The program after the workshop is built for services businesses, so if you're product or e-commerce the workshop is still useful, but the next step might not be the right fit.
