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AI & You: 6 Powerful Tools to Transform Your Business and Life

With Local AI Expert Lori Gama

Article by Lori Gama

Photography by AI Generated

Originally published in Greeley Lifestyle

After 30 years in digital marketing, Lori Gama has innovated with game-changing technologies—from the dawn of websites in 1993 to mastering Google in 1998 and riding the social media wave in 2008. But she firmly believes that nothing—not smartphones, the cloud, or even the Internet—compares to the seismic shift happening now with Artificial Intelligence (AI).

AI isn’t just another trend; it’s a revolution transforming how we work, communicate, and live. Whether running a business, leading a nonprofit, or enjoying retirement, AI is here to reshape the world. The future is now, and Greeley is part of it. Let’s get ready.

Since ChatGPT, a generative AI chatbot, launched in 2022, Lori has been exploring and mastering AI. Today, she uses 23 powerful AI tools that have saved her over 8,000 hours in just three years. These tools amplify her skills in writing, marketing, programming, strategizing, and idea creation.  Her standard is always to create work of the highest quality—which her team continues to do with the assistance of AI.

Lori believes that AI is not here to replace human creativity but to amplify it. She views AI as a powerful tool that enhances productivity and innovation while preserving the human touch.

For those curious but unsure where to start, Lori offers her expertise as an AI Consultant, guiding others through this transformative journey. She helps clients increase efficiency by 30% or more, freeing up more time to meet their big goals. Whether you’re a business owner or nonprofit leader, Lori provides personalized strategies, training, and workshops to leverage AI effectively. Intrigued? Here is a primer on six of her favorite AI tools.

ChatGPT      chatGPT.com

ChatGPT is like having a super-smart friend who’s always ready to help. It’s an AI-powered chatbot that responds to questions in a human-like way, drawing on a vast range of knowledge from books, articles, and websites. But it’s not repeating pre-programmed answers—it crafts responses on the spot, just like in a real, human conversation. Give it a try with these prompts!

  • “Give me 7 gluten-free dinners for a family of 4 under $135. Ask me questions until you’re 95% sure of giving the best output possible.”

  •  “Plan a week of easy 30-minute workouts for a busy parent who wants to stay active.”

  •  “What are some creative yet inexpensive date night ideas?”

Perplexity.ai      Perplexity.ai

Perplexity.ai is the world’s best research assistant right at your fingertips. It cites its sources and even creates graphs for data-related questions. It combines powerful search engine capabilities with the conversational ease of a chatbot. You can narrow down searches using focus modes like academic, social, and video. Its contextual memory keeps track of the conversation, so follow-up questions can be asked without starting over. For fun, try asking:

  • “What are the top 10 things families with 2 teenagers can do in Greeley, Colorado, with five hours and a $75 budget?”

  • “If I want to start a small backyard garden, what are the easiest plants to grow in Colorado’s climate?"

  • "What are some science-backed ways to improve focus and productivity while working from home?"

MidJourney      Midjourney.com

MidJourney is a powerful text-to-image AI tool that brings imagination to stunning visuals. Simply describe the image—whether it’s photorealistic, Disney Pixar-inspired, or intricate cut-out designs—and watch it come to life in seconds. Perfect for recreating cherished memories for memoirs, producing technical illustrations and diagrams, or generating unique social media content. Artists can use MidJourney as an extension of their creativity, experimenting with new ideas or enhancing their projects. The possibilities are truly endless, but here are a few prompts to get started:

  • "Design a modern kitchen design with bold colors and minimalist decor."
  • "Illustrate a children’s storybook cover about a curious cat who sails the world."
  • "Imagine a cozy bookstore on a rainy evening, lit by warm lanterns."

Magai       magai.co 

Magai is an all-in-one AI platform for creating stunning images and high-quality text. While it takes some learning, the creative payoff is worth it. Magai transforms text into visuals or videos—perfect for social media and web design. On the writing side, it uses language models to create everything from blog posts to ad copy. With saved prompts and real-time collaboration, mastering Magai unlocks limitless creative possibilities for individuals and businesses alike. Here a few ideas:

  • "Design a modern coffee shop logo with a cozy, minimalist aesthetic."
  • "Generate an Instagram caption for a stunning sunset photo over the Rockies."
  • "Illustrate a book cover for a mystery novel set in a spring forest."

NotebookLM          notebooklm.google.com

NotebookLM lets users transform any topic into an engaging AI-driven podcast. Simply provide a link to an online article, upload a PDF, or ask a question, and it generates an audio podcast featuring male and female AI “hosts” discussing the chosen topic. The best part? Users barely have to write anything. Want to impress a colleague or loved one, give these prompts a try:

  • "Create a birthday podcast celebrating my best friend's incredible achievements and the highlights of their amazing life."
  • "Make a fun, fictional podcast episode about a missing sock from the laundry for my kids."
  • "Turn this news article into a 5-minute podcast debate between two experts."

HeyGen & ElevenLabs       heygen.com / elevenlabs.io

Lori used HeyGen (heygen.com) and ElevenLabs (elevenlabs.io) to create her personal digital “twin”—a video version of herself with her cloned voice. That’s right—she can appear on camera and sound exactly like herself without actually being there. Lori simply writes a script reflecting her strategies and ideas, and her “twin” delivers it seamlessly. The video is always polished, with perfect hair, makeup, and lighting already built in. Meanwhile, Lori can focus on running her business, volunteering in our Greeley community, or biking with her husband on the Poudre River Trail. Saving her countless hours while keeping her marketing consistent and engaging.

For personalized AI help, follow Lori on her Instagram @dagamamarketing or visit her website DaGamaDigitalMarketing.com.