Artificial-intelligence breakthroughs are no longer confined to research labs—they are reshaping how lean teams plan, produce and profit. This session opens with an introduction level tour of the model evolution from GPT-2 through to the latest reasoning models and other cutting-edge multimodal systems, highlighting what each leap has unlocked for everyday users. We then pivot to the boardroom and back office, demonstrating how SMEs are already using AI to slash document-processing time, personalise marketing at scale, and answer customer queries 24/7 without adding headcount. Attendees will learn a pragmatic decision framework to evaluate when an off-the-shelf application layer product (e.g., CRM plugins, email co-pilots, domain-specific chat interfaces) delivers more value—and less risk—than building custom prompts in ChatGPT alone. We conclude with a five-point roadmap covering data readiness, pilot projects, governance and ROI measurement, equipping you to start your own AI initiative the moment you return to the office. A brief Q&A will follow and we will be available for further discussion at the Kai exhibition stand.