Artificial intelligence advancements have made this technology more powerful and more accessible to businesses than ever. In fact, 38% of small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) currently use AI, according to Verizon Business’s 6th Annual State of Small Business Survey.
Generative AI (GenAI) has proven especially helpful in streamlining business operations, taking on tasks like content creation, estimate generation, and even customer personality profiling. Here are some top generative AI tools and their use cases, along with tips to help you choose the right solution for your business.
[Read more: Traditional AI vs. Generative AI: A Breakdown]
Generative AI tools for small businesses
While the well-known ChatGPT can be a good starting point for broad GenAI usage, these five generative AI tools may be more useful for businesses that handle specific types of creative and technical tasks.
CapCut: for video creation and editing
CapCut reduces workloads by automatically cutting clips, adding transitions and voiceovers, and upscaling footage. Its free AI video generator can turn written ideas into downloadable videos within seconds so you can create more, faster.
“[Tools like CapCut] help businesses scale their content output while reducing costs,” said Daniel Iles, Founder of Viral Coach. “[This leads] to faster turnaround times and increased profitability with professional-looking content that your audience is interested in.”
Claude: for research and marketing content generation
Claude is like a brainstorming companion that can help users refine marketing materials, generate code and data, and conduct research.
“I use [Claude] for everything from research to the generation of outlines, interview questions, and the evaluation of content,” explained Linda Pophal, Founder and Owner of Strategic Communications.
[Read more: AI Tools for Small Business Marketing]
ElevenLabs: for voice synthesis
ElevenLabs uses generative AI to develop high-quality, realistic voices. From text-to-speech and voice cloning to dubbing, it helps businesses scale their digital content with ease.
“Tools [like ElevenLabs] eliminate manual work and speed up response time,” noted Jake Hyten, CEO of Superior Supplement Manufacturing.
Humantic AI: for personality profiling
Humantic AI predicts target buyers’ personalities to help businesses fine-tune their user experience and align messaging with individual needs.
Tatiana Teppoeva, Ph.D, AI Strategist and Founder of One Nonverbal Ecosystem, uses tools like this to help clients analyze buyer signals, personalize messaging, and communicate more clearly.
“This approach turns AI into a trust builder, conversion enhancer, and strategic differentiator in high-ticket B2B sales,” Teppoeva said.
Replit: for app and site development
Replit enables companies to quickly build apps and websites by sharing simple prompts via chat. This tool can offer significant savings for businesses, said Wyatt Mayham, CEO and Co-founder of Northwest AI Consulting.
“We'd normally pay $40–60K to a dev shop for some of the tools we've built, or have to pull someone off a client project from our internal team to build it,” Mayham explained. “With the AI tools inside Replit, we've launched apps for lead tracking, content generation, and internal dashboards in days.”
I use [Claude] for everything from research to the generation of outlines, interview questions, and the evaluation of content.Linda Pophal, Founder and Owner of Strategic Communications
How to choose the right generative AI tools for your business
These expert-backed best practices can help you find the ideal tool for your business’s needs.
Identify the business’s needs and current operations
Patrick E. Murphy, Chief Investment Officer of Coastal Construction, advised against “adopting AI for AI’s sake.” Instead, he encouraged small business owners to start with a real business problem and seek ways to solve it.
“Look for tools that can save time, improve quality, or unlock new revenue streams,” he said.
Equally important is how well the tool fits into your existing workflow: “It should feel like a natural extension of your current processes, not a disruption,” Murphy added.
Do your research, then trial your top contenders
When selecting prospective tools, Teppoeva recommends starting your research with free online resources, then trialing your top solutions.
“Assess each one not just for speed, but for how well it reflects … emotional tone, presence, and authority,” said Teppoeva.
When evaluating tools, accuracy is also crucial; you shouldn’t need to spend valuable time rewriting major errors or re-explaining prompts. Look for tools that have been trained on clean, robust, and unbiased data, and consider running your own tests by prompting for a “known” result you can cross-reference.
With that said, even the best GenAI models can make occasional mistakes, so it’s crucial to account for a level of human approval.
“Anyone using these tools must be committed to accuracy and fact-checking,” Pophal said. “You can’t simply let them generate content without oversight.”
[Read more: A Small Business Guide to AI]
Measure ROI and business impact
As with any new initiative, you’ll want to assess the return on investment of any GenAI program you use. When rolling out a tool, Hyten recommended starting with a small pilot program and then expanding “only if it measurably boosts revenue or efficiency.”
Beyond these hard numbers, consider how well the tool complements your team’s human strengths.
“Can [it] help you sell more effectively? Build credibility faster? Present yourself with more presence?” Teppoeva said. “That’s when AI becomes a growth partner, not just a shortcut.”
CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.
