Why I’m Done Feeling Guilty About Using AI (And You Should Be Too)

I recently got shamed by a peer for leaning on AI to tackle the endless copy needed for a website launch.

My initial reaction was, “oh 💩, I’m a fraud, what have I come to!” And then very quickly the rational me kicked in, and was like, “is this person actually joking?”

Of course I’m going to use AI to help me finesse my copy:

Firstly, I’m not a copywriter. I’m a marketeer and brand specialist (I wish people would know the difference).

Secondly, we don’t have budget for a copywriter.

And thirdly, we’re launching a new website and there are pages and pages of copy and blogs to be written!

Small Business Owners: It’s Time to Take the Shame Out of AI

AI Isn’t Cheating, It’s Smart Business

I had to remind myself:

• I’d done the hard work of gathering all the information.

• I’d set up the copy, formatted and written in the right way.

• I’d done all the keyword research and optimised keywords in my copy.

AI was there for me like a good proofreader would be in ad land. Or like a “suit” giving the work an extra pair of eyes before it went to the client for review.

Why the Stigma Around AI Needs to Go

In my opinion, it would be unrealistic to think you’re so perfect that you get everything right every time without any support, whether that’s from peers or AI. Having a second pair of eyes only makes your work stronger, not less valid.

I want to take the stigma out of using AI. More people are waking up to the efficiencies it can bring—and for small businesses doing all the heavy lifting on their own, that support can be game-changing.

Small Business Owners, This One’s for You

If you’re running a business, you’re doing all the jobs (Yes, you are a Unicorn). AI can be your backup crew. It’s not here to take over your brand; it’s here to take the scary, heavy-lifting stuff off your plate.

Think about how much time you could save if you used AI to:

• Took your meeting notes.

• Get quick insights from GA4 data without drowning in data.

• Brainstorm blog ideas so you’re not staring at a blank screen.

  
  

I mean, look at what Google is doing. They’ve got Google Gemini and now their new AI Mode, which changes how we search forever. If the biggest player in the game is investing in AI, why shouldn’t you?

And to the small business owners reading this: AI doesn’t have to be scary. It doesn’t have to strip out your personality or make your brand feel robotic. At The Unicorn & Carrot, we help you get hands-on with AI, use it to save time, and still sound exactly like you.

How to Try AI Without Losing Your Voice

If AI feels a bit overwhelming, you don’t have to dive in headfirst.

Start small:

• Use it like a proofreader, let it tidy up your draft, then put your spin on it.

• Ask it for a few headline ideas, then pick (or tweak) the one that actually sounds like you.

• Test one tool for one task. See if it saves you time before adding anything else.

Not sure where to begin? Check out this

 guide for inspiration.

The goal isn’t to replace your creativity. It’s to give yourself more breathing room to actually use it.

Ready to Try It?

If you want to stop feeling guilty about using AI, and start feeling empowered, we run:

• 121 sessions to help you integrate AI into your marketing without losing your voice.

• Workshops that show you which tools are worth your time and how to actually use them.

  
  

Book a session here or join a workshop.

To the AI haters: wake up and smell the roses. AI is here, and people are comparing it to the industrial revolution, except it’s transforming our world at near light speed.

And yes, to the person who shamed me: I did use AI as my proofreader and SEO spot check for this blog. But I wrote it, and I’m the author. This is proudly my work, with a little help from a friend.

Stay magical. We’ll handle the rest.