GoDaddy’s CEO on when small businesses should — and shouldn't — use AI

Aman Bhutani, the CEO of GoDaddy, a domain registrar and web-hosting company boasting over 20 million customers, primarily small businesses, has shared his insights on when small businesses should employ artificial intelligence (AI) and when they should refrain. Bhutani asserts that small business owners can benefit from AI by automating operational tasks, thereby saving time. He emphasizes that entrepreneurs should concentrate on their core competencies rather than outsourcing their brand identity.

Bhutani encourages the adoption of AI by businesses to handle repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on more strategic activities. According to a recent survey conducted by GoDaddy’s small business research lab, US entrepreneurs identified content creation, marketing, and business advice as the top areas where they could achieve significant time savings with AI.

GoDaddy provides access to Airo, an agentic tool capable of creating websites and handling various operational functions. Airo can generate user logins for a small business's customers, facilitate targeted customer outreach based on location or business engagement, among other functionalities.

When considering the appropriate use of AI, Bhutani advises that businesses should employ these tools for tasks in which they lack expertise or where AI can offer a competitive advantage. He underscores that humans should retain control over their brand's unique identity and not delegate it to AI. While AI can assist in research, the final decision-making process should be left to the business owners. Bhutani notes that while AI can provide suggestions, the human element remains crucial in maintaining brand integrity.

In essence, AI tools can significantly enhance efficiency by freeing up time for business owners to focus on their areas of expertise. However, they should not replace human oversight, especially concerning branding and strategic decision-making.