How 3 small business owners will -- and won't -- use AI-powered marketing features

Meta announced in August new AI tools for small business owners, aiming to audit organic Facebook and Instagram posts and ads, compare business performance against similar brands, and generate marketing strategy suggestions. The article also notes solo owners using generative AI apps such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini for tasks like customer outreach and content ideation. Three small business owners describe a more cautious approach. Andrea Garcia Fry of Arquia prefers using tools like ChatGPT or Claude as “thought partners,” while wanting systems that genuinely learn the business. Catalina Parker of Relatable Nonprofit says Meta Ads recommendations often didn’t fit her needs and wants broader analysis across marketing channels. Bonnie Gurry of GreenPortfolio sees AI as a time-saver but warns against ceding decisions on capital allocation or brand positioning to the platform.