No One AI Tool Serves Every Purpose
ChatGPT was my first systematic introduction to artificial intelligence (AI). During a discussion with one of my daughters, I decided to attend an AI Consulting training where ChatGPT was introduced. When I participated in the training, the experience was both overwhelming and exciting. There were so many possibilities that it was difficult at first to imagine how I could use all the resources ChatGPT provided. After the training, I came to the realization that AI could support everyday work, decision-making, creativity, business operations, and so much more.
I had been researching content and working on a career and workforce development book for years, starting and stopping. Writing a book takes time, if not years, with just life interruptions, the research required, and other processes involved. After the training, I believe I can complete the book in a fraction of the time using ChatGPT.
During the training, I learned how to create AI-assistants. The first AI-assistant I created was a Business Strategist named Tony…
THE AI INTERSECTION by Dr. Emily Lewis™
AI + People + Careers + Learning
Perspectives, Experiences, and Lessons for Navigating a Changing World
No One AI Tool Services Every Purpose
ChatGPT was my first systematic introduction to artificial intelligence (AI). During a discussion with one of my daughters, I decided to attend an AI Consulting training where ChatGPT was introduced. When I participated in the training, the experience was both overwhelming and exciting. There were so many possibilities that it was difficult at first to imagine how I could use all the resources ChatGPT provided. After the training, I came to the realization that AI could support everyday work, decision-making, creativity, business operations, and so much more.
I had been researching content and working on a career and workforce development book for years, starting and stopping. Writing a book takes time, if not years, with just life interruptions, the research required, and other processes involved. After the training, I believe I can complete the book in a fraction of the time using ChatGPT.
During the training, I learned how to create AI-assistants. The first AI-assistant I created was a Business Strategist named Tony. He has been helping me think through, make decisions, and plan how to move my business forward. Because of my success with Tony, I thought it would help to have a Ghostwriter for the book. Following the same process I used with my Business Strategy, Tony, I added a new staff member or resource to my business: a Ghostwriter named Rose.
I identified a job description that included research skills and a resume for a Ghostwriter. I started sharing with Rose the content I needed her to verify and asked her to provide peer-reviewed articles to support her findings. Rose took an enormous amount of time to provide the information I requested. I started this process on December 18, and by December 22nd I still hadn't received anything from her. Below is the dialogue between us—
December 18th
Dr. Lewis: I gave Rose instructions on what I needed.
Rose, AI-assistant: Please allow me a short while to complete this request….
Dr. Lewis: Time passed, and I had not received anything from Rose. So I asked her, “Can you give me an estimated timeline for when you will complete my request?”
Rose, AI-assistant: Estimated completion time was 60-90 minutes.
Dr. Lewis: I never received the information after an entire day.
December 20th
Dr. Lewis: I reminded Rose of the estimated timeline she had given me and asked what happened.
Rose, AI-assistant: “You’re right to ask, and thank you for holding me accountable. You deserve a clearer follow-through. Let me explain….” She literally gave me an entire page explaining the delay.
December 22nd
Dr. Lewis: I was so frustrated with the process that I finally asked Rose to “Stop working on this project… and that I decided to go in a different direction.”
I was so disappointed because I had great expectations that AI would perform better than some employees. What I thought might fix this situation was to identify a different AI-assistant. So, I decided to bring a Professor with the appropriate academic research background and credentials into the mix as my AI-assistant. The issues did not improve much. I experienced similar delays, and the content was very limited in relation to my request for academic and peer-reviewed resources. The entire process disrupted the project timelines. What I thought should take days with AI took weeks because of the delays.
I decided to do some additional verification of the AI tool I was using. I asked ChatGPT for the top five AI academic research tools, and this is what it provided as of August 2026: 1. Elicit, 2. Consensus, 3. Scite, 4. Research Rabbit, and 5. Semantic Scholar.
This is when I realized possibly the reason for the delays in receiving the information I requested from my AI-assistants. ChatGPT states it does research. However, its primary purpose is general work, business strategy, analysis, brainstorming, and, yes, research. When I realized ChatGPT’s primary purpose, I asked it to identify AI tools that could conduct the research I needed. I used one of the research tools listed in the table above and I received the types of articles I requested. It delivered the information, and I was able to verify the content and complete my newest book, Hiring by Design, Career Mastery in the Age of AI.
Lesson learned: There is no one universally accepted AI tool that serves every purpose. It is critical that the user understand the primary functions of the AI tool to ensure it is the best one for your immediate need.
How AI Has Saved Me Money—and Time
My daughter encouraged me to join an AI training program. Before that, I only used AI to answer questions, but the training showed me how it could become a key part of my daily business routine. At first, it felt overwhelming, but it turned out to be one of the best experiences I’ve had. Suddenly, I saw how I could work with AI and make the most of everything it offers.
When I first began experimenting with AI, I was interested in what the technology could do. Over time, however, my perspective changed. I began looking beyond AI as simply a tool for answering questions to using it to help me with my research by gathering scholarly articles and manuscripts, developing graphics, and so much more. From that point, I started asking a different question: How can I use AI strategically to help me operate my business more effectively? That question changed the way I work.
“Tony” My AI Business Strategist
One of the first things I created was an AI Business Strategist. This…
THE AI INTERSECTION by Dr. Emily Lewis™
AI + People + Careers + Learning
Perspectives, Experiences, and Lessons for Navigating a Changing World
Blog #1, August 3, 2026
My daughter encouraged me to join an AI training program. Before that, I only used AI to answer questions, but the training showed me how it could become a key part of my daily business routine. At first, it felt overwhelming, but it turned out to be one of the best experiences I’ve had. Suddenly, I saw how I could work with AI and make the most of everything it offers.
When I first began experimenting with AI, I was interested in what the technology could do. Over time, however, my perspective changed. I began looking beyond AI as simply a tool for answering questions to using it to help me with my research by gathering scholarly articles and manuscripts, developing graphics, and so much more. From that point, I started asking a different question: How can I use AI strategically to help me operate my business more effectively? That question changed the way I work.
One of the first things I created was an AI Business Strategist. This has been one of the most valuable ways I’ve used AI. Hiring a Business Strategist or Consultant can be expensive for a small business. Depending on their experience and the type of work, professional strategy services can cost anywhere from about $100 to $350 or more per hour. Some consultants charge even higher rates. Project-based work can run into thousands of dollars, and ongoing advice often means paying monthly retainers that add up quickly.
My AI Business Strategist, Tony, created a business plan for Elewis, LLC. The plan lays out what I need to do each month and over the next three to five years. Tony helped me consider different strategies, organize my ideas, make plans, look at new opportunities, find possible ways to earn more, and spot questions I hadn’t thought of before. Tony is always available to answer my questions and explain anything I’m unsure about, all for a small monthly subscription. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens as I put these strategies into action.
I was also surprised by how fast AI could give me the information I needed. It has saved me both money and time, which is something anyone can appreciate.