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KEY TAKEAWAYS

• How can I use AI to start a business?

• Can I use AI to start up a new business?

• What are the best businesses can I start up using AI?

• What is an AI Agent?

HOW CAN I USE AI TO START A NEW BUSINESS?

Daniel TJ International Correspondent Tokyo, Japan

A few years ago, if someone said “start a business,” my brain immediately went to stress. Money. Office space. Employees. Risk.

The whole intimidating package. And honestly, for most of my life, that was true. Starting something meant jumping off a cliff and hoping you built wings on the way down.

But AI changed that. Quietly at first. And then all at once.

What surprised me most isn’t that AI is powerful — we already know that — but that regular people can use it. Not engineers.

Not Silicon Valley types. Just… people. You, me, someone with an idea, a laptop, and maybe a bit of curiosity. That’s the real shift.

I’ve watched friends who never thought of themselves as “business people” suddenly launch things. Newsletters. Design services. Travel guides.

Coaching offers. Even full-on companies. And a lot of them didn’t start with a grand plan. They started by messing around with AI and thinking, “Huh… I could actually sell this.”

Why AI makes starting a business feel different now

Here’s the big thing: AI removes friction.

You don’t need to be a great writer — AI helps.
You don’t need to be a designer — AI helps
You don’t need to be organized, confident, or even totally sure — AI helps with that too.

It’s like having a quiet business partner who doesn’t get tired and doesn’t judge you when you ask the same question five times.

And no, AI doesn’t magically make you successful. But it shrinks the gap between idea and execution. That gap used to stop most people. Now it doesn’t have to.

20 ways people are using AI to start businesses right now

I’ll just list these casually, not because you need to do all of them, but because one of them might click something in your head.

1. Writing blogs or SEO articles for small businesses

2. Creating resumes and LinkedIn profiles for job seekers

3. Running social media accounts for local shops

4. Designing logos and branding packages

5. Selling AI-written ebooks or guides

6. Creating travel itineraries or relocation guides

7. Email marketing services for small companies

8. Online tutoring or micro-courses

9. Copywriting for websites and landing pages

10. AI-powered customer support chat setup

11. Personal productivity coaching

12. Translation and localization services

13. Scriptwriting for YouTube or TikTok creators

14. Niche newsletters (jobs, visas, lifestyle, trends)

15. Market research summaries for startups

16. Product descriptions for e-commerce stores

17. Podcast show notes and episode summaries

18. Online dating profile writing (yes, really)

19. Digital planners and templates

20. Consulting businesses on how to use AI itself

And here’s the funny thing — most of these don’t sound exciting at first. They sound… ordinary. That’s why they work.

Ordinary problems, solved faster and cheaper, are where money usually is.

The simple 7-step process (really, it’s this simple)

I won’t overcomplicate this. Most people quit because they think they’re missing a secret. They’re not.

Step 1: Pick one problem you understand
Not the biggest problem. Just one you get. Something you’ve dealt with yourself.

Step 2: Ask AI dumb questions
Seriously. Treat it like a patient assistant. Ask how to solve the problem, how others charge for it, how to explain it simply.

Step 3: Choose one offer
Not five. One. A service, a product, or a subscription.

Step 4: Use AI to create your first version
Website copy. Social posts. Emails. Don’t aim for perfect. Aim for done.

Step 5: Put it somewhere public
A simple website. A landing page. Even a Google Doc at first. You need somewhere to send people.

Step 6: Tell people, awkwardly
This is the hardest part. Post about it. Message people. Say, “Hey, I’m trying this.” That’s enough.

Step 7: Improve based on reality, not theory
What people ask you? What confuses them? AI helps you iterate fast.

That’s it. No secret step eight.

The part no one likes to talk about

AI won’t give you courage. It won’t stop self-doubt. It won’t magically make people care.

But it will sit with you at 2 a.m. when you’re unsure, helping you think things through. And sometimes that’s everything.

I’ve noticed something else too. People who succeed with AI businesses aren’t the smartest or most technical. They’re the ones who keep going, quietly adjusting, not chasing trends every week.

They treat AI like a tool, not a personality.

Final thought (and yeah, this matters)

If you’re waiting to feel “ready,” you’ll wait forever. I’ve done that. A lot of us have.

AI gives you a weird gift: permission to start messy.

You don’t need to know everything. You just need to start asking better questions and take one small step forward. Then another. Then another.

And honestly? That’s how most real businesses have always started. AI just makes it feel possible again.

Anyway… that’s my coffee getting cold. If you’re even thinking about starting something, that’s probably your sign.

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