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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Photographing the abandoned duplex Richard Hahn discovered on state Route 7 in Rogers was just the first step.

Elements of the original image, such as utility wires and branches overhead, were “distractions” that he wanted to remove – a process he says was made much simpler with the use of the emerging technology of artificial intelligence. A black-and-white version of the edited photo is among the pieces in “Facades,” Hahn’s current show at the Butler Institute of American Art.

“AI has allowed me to take chances when photographing in the field. I understand that a photo can be more easily edited to attain the desired results,” Hahn says.

Hahn is among the local business owners and operators who spoke with The Business Journal or participated in a survey about their use of AI technology. 

Local companies in real estate, marketing, employee benefits and other fields report utilizing artificial intelligence in their operations to some degree. Nine companies responded to the survey, five of which said they were not using AI in their operations. Of the companies that said they weren’t using AI, all but one said they were planning to eventually or were not sure. Factors they would consider include data privacy and security concerns, cost and availability of skilled staff.

RMH CREATIVE

Hahn uses generative AI – which employs existing information to create new content – when editing photographs. Specifically, it is used to remove “aberrations and distracting images from photographs” and to enlarge photos without loss of quality or resolution.

Before AI, Hahn, owner of RMH Creative LLC in Youngstown, would have to eliminate an undesired element of an image using photo editing software such as Adobe Photoshop. He then would have to fill the hole that was left. Such edits often took several hours.

“With AI, when you remove something, it automatically replaces the background with the original environment,” he says.

In the duplex photograph, he also took out nearby houses, road signs and other elements that distracted from the main image. The challenge is to not rely extensively on AI but to maintain the true appearance of the subject as much as possible.

SCHROEDEL, SCULLIN & BESTIC

Schroedel, Scullin & Bestic, a certified public accounting and strategic business advisory firm in Canfield, extensively utilizes AI within Client Accounting and Advisory Services, or CAAS, through QuickBooks Online and other software, according to Tracie Stephens, managing partner.

“With AI, we can provide current financial data and insights, helping clients make informed decisions,” Stephens says.

“Additionally, AI automates the entry and categorization of transactions, reducing manual errors and saving time,” she continues. “By reducing the burden of routine tasks, AI can improve work-life balance for accountants and bookkeepers, making our profession more attractive and sustainable.”

The firm also is exploring how to implement AI to create efficiencies by analyzing large data sets, automating data entry and leveraging software for research assistance, helping with daily tasks such as document creation and editing, data analysis and email management with ChatGPT and Copilot; and enhancing training.

“We also expect the advancements in AI to help us to mitigate the talent shortage and help transform the accounting profession into a more dynamic and innovative field,” she says.

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES STOUFFER REALTY

Kevin Leonard, president and COO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Stouffer Realty, recently attended the Marketing Artificial Intelligence Conference, also referred to as MAICON, a multiday event with leaders from around the world.

“We are constantly learning,” he says. The theme of the conference was “More Intelligent. More Human.”

The real estate company, which has offices in Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Mahoning, Portage, Summit and Trumbull counties, uses AI technology for data analytics and predictive modeling, automation such as invoicing and scheduling, and personalization for customer service.

“We believe in empowering our team and believe they can perform higher [return on investment] work leveraging AI for some tasks,” he says.

DCW GROUP

Bob Gearhart Jr., CEO of DCW Group in Boardman, also cautions about getting distracted or lost in what AI can – or should – do for a business.

“Recognizing where both the technology and your team are today is important in building a strategy,” he says. “Employees need to be reassured that AI is a productivity enhancer and not a replacement, and you can’t put too much stock in what AI can do today as it still needs human oversight and review.”

DCW Group utilizes software that uses text prompts to configure data. “We use it to combine complex data sets or to audit multiple data sets against one another,” he says.

For customer service, he uses AI Native to provide a website with frequently asked questions-type articles, he adds. The AI is able to “read” the material in the articles and propose answers for people seeking information.

AI has also boosted employee productivity by generating customer answers that can be edited or adjusted before being sent, he says.

“In our business, the particular challenge is around protected health information and ensuring that none of that information makes it to public models,” he says. “We have found that the providers we serve use medical providers and other industries where they have existing protections in place, but they typically come at a much higher cost,” he says.

898 MARKETING

898 Marketing in Canfield, which provides services such as branding and marketing, creative design, video and photography and website development, uses AI technology for chatbots/virtual assistants and data analytics/predictive marketing, according to its survey response.

Factors influencing the company’s decision to employ AI include cost/budget, availability of skilled staff, ease of integration with existing systems, proven ROI and benefits, and data privacy.

LOOPED SOLUTIONS

Kara Wasser, founder and CEO of Looped Solutions in Hermitage, Pa., outlines the role AI is playing in her company.

Originally known as OhanaLink Technologies, the company develops mobile solutions to connect family and friends during health-centered events and, more recently, to connect victims of domestic violence with resources to assist them.

“AI is at the top of our product roadmap because of the value it will bring to the functionality of Looped Fusion, our current in-market solution,” Wasser says. “There is an increasing need for automation and efficiency in social services, a rising demand for cloud-based solutions, and a focus on improving client engagement and service delivery in sectors like social care, mental health and child welfare.”

The integration of AI functionality into the company’s product offerings will allow it to add more value to further enhance communication and engagement across service providers and to expand product offerings across other markets with similar needs.

Anticipated benefits of AI integration include enhanced safety features to keep both victims of domestic violence and their advocates safe; agency operations improvements that increase advocate efficiency and save valuable resources; and increased access to services as agencies adopt a digital agency model.

GATEWAYS TO BETTER LIVING

Gateways to Better Living in Youngstown, which provides services for people with developmental disabilities, doesn’t use AI now but is planning to adopt it in the future, Kristie Murphy, community engagement director, says.

“As the community engagement director, I believe that creative thinking is essential. While AI can be a valuable tool for generating ideas, it should never replace the unique, human quality of individual creativity, which is truly an art form,” Murphy says.

“At Gateways, we do not see the use of AI for developing our plans as beneficial,” she continues. “Our commitment is to provide thorough and accurate assessments that are free from outside influence for the individuals we serve with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This ensures that we capture the true strengths and needs of each individual we serve, allowing us to create personalized plans that are meaningful and effective.”