There’s More Than One Kind of AI

Why this matters:
Most contractors hear “AI” and think of ChatGPT. But that’s like hearing “tool” and thinking only of a hammer. There are different types of AI — and each one shines in different parts of your business. Knowing what kind you’re working with helps you ask better questions and get better results.

The 3 Main Flavors of AI You’ll Run Into

1. Chat-Based AI (like ChatGPT or Claude)
These are your writing partners. They respond to instructions, answer questions, and generate content.
Use them for: emails, scripts, blog posts, job summaries, training docs.

2. Task-Based AI (like Auto-GPT, Copilot, or smart CRM tools)
These tools carry out sequences of actions based on your input. Think “do this for me” instead of “write this with me.”
Use them for: creating estimates, scheduling jobs, updating CRMs, or tagging leads.

3. Search + Retrieval AI (like Perplexity, custom bots, or RAG systems)
These are built to find and summarize information — fast. They don’t create from scratch, but they do give you what’s already out there.
Use them for: research, competitor checks, pricing references, internal documentation.

You Don’t Need to Master All of Them

Most contractors will start with chat-based AI — and that’s a great move.
But over time, mixing in the other two unlocks huge wins:

• Less admin work

• Faster job setup

• Smarter follow-ups

• Cleaner systems

Knowing what kind of AI you’re using helps you know what to expect from it — and what not to.