Essays on managed AI
- 13 April 2026 · 9 min read
What is a managed AI system for small business?
A managed AI system is an AI-powered tool — lead capture agent, compliance engine, workflow automation — deployed inside a small business and then continuously monitored, improved, and maintained by an external operator. This is how it works, what it costs, and how to pick the right one.
- 20 April 2026 · 11 min read
EU AI Act compliance for UK SMEs: a practical guide
The EU AI Act applies to UK businesses that sell, market, or operate AI-touching products into the EU. The high-risk obligations hit on 2 August 2026. This is what a UK SME actually has to do, what it costs, and how to document it without hiring a compliance team.
- 27 April 2026 · 10 min read
How AI lead capture works for service businesses
Service businesses lose 40–60% of out-of-hours enquiries to voicemail and slow email replies. An AI lead capture agent is a trained 24/7 operator on the website that qualifies visitors, captures contact details, books meetings, and runs follow-up. This is how it works, what it should do, and how to deploy one.
- 4 May 2026 · 9 min read
Managed AI vs DIY chatbots: what's the difference?
DIY chatbot platforms (Intercom, Drift, Tidio, Crisp, ChatGPT plugins) are cheap to sign up for and expensive to keep working. Managed AI systems cost more upfront and less in hidden ongoing work. This is the honest comparison — features, cost, results, and when each one is the right answer.
- 11 May 2026 · 9 min read
AI proposal generation for agencies and consultancies
Agencies and consultancies spend 3–5 hours per proposal on work that could take 30 minutes. AI proposal generation trained on the firm's past proposals, pricing rules, and voice produces first-draft proposals in minutes. This is how it works, what it costs, and how to deploy it.
- 18 May 2026 · 10 min read
6 AI systems every small business should deploy in 2026
Most small businesses know they should be using AI but do not know where to start. The honest answer in 2026 is to deploy six specific systems — lead capture, compliance, proposals, support, workflow automation, and an internal knowledge base — in a defined order, picking only the ones that match your operational gaps.