Unlocking Business Growth with AI: A Consultant’s Journey to $50,000
In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), businesses are continuously seeking innovative ways to harness the power of technology to fuel growth and efficiency. Sasha Aptlin, a 25-year-old AI consultant balancing his time between Dubai and New York, shares his experience navigating the booming demand for AI solutions through his consultancy firm, Aptford. Aptlin’s journey underscores the transformative potential of AI in business and the challenges that come with managing clients’ expectations.
From Vision to Reality
Having embarked on his machine learning career with a focus on computer vision, natural language processing, and recommendation systems, Aptlin saw an opportunity to leverage his expertise to assist businesses in their growth endeavors. In January 2022, Aptlin launched Aptford, a consultancy firm dedicated to developing AI-driven solutions.
The initial months saw Aptlin working on modest contracts, primarily focused on demonstrating the capabilities of natural language processing and building AI system prototypes. However, the release of ChatGPT in November 2022 marked a turning point, attracting a surge of interest from founders and entrepreneurs eager to explore generative AI’s potential to streamline operations and enhance profitability.
Expanding Horizons
Moving beyond simple chatbot projects, Aptlin’s expertise was sought for more ambitious endeavors. One notable project involved creating an AI assistant for a sales training company capable of automating skills assessments and curating personalized improvement plans. Another exciting venture was developing an AI coach for a startup accelerator and a comprehensive transport management system for a freight broker, illustrating the diverse applications of AI across industries.
A particularly fulfilling assignment for Aptlin was building an AI platform for a San Francisco-based mortgage lender. By finetuning the system with legal documents and company data, the platform enabled loan officers to promptly address customer inquiries, slashing response times from 20 minutes to mere moments.
A Flourishing Business
Aptlin’s success is reflected in his earnings, with nearly $50,000 accumulated from two projects by late December 2023, alongside additional revenue from consultations and a postponed contract. His approach to project management involves a thorough review of the client’s operations, development of a tailored action plan, and continuous adaptation to meet specific needs, with projects typically completed within a four to six-week timeframe.
Navigating Challenges
Despite his accomplishments, Aptlin acknowledges the hurdles of expectation management. Clients sometimes request turnaround times or project outcomes that are not feasible, with instances of requests for AI systems mimicking human-like companions or desiring customer support agents that could entirely replace human staff. Aptlin also highlights challenges related to data scraping and legal compliance, which have led some clients to withdraw from projects.
Charting the Future
Aptlin advises businesses interested in integrating AI to familiarize themselves with large language models and to collect comprehensive datasets for fine-tuning purposes. He encourages experimentation with available AI services and tools to better understand the technology’s capabilities and limitations.
As AI continues to redefine the business landscape, Aptlin’s journey illustrates both the immense potential and the intricate challenges of deploying AI solutions. His experiences provide valuable insights for businesses and consultants alike, navigating the complexities of this transformative technology.
