Field Notes · GetLatest AI

Field notes.

Practical notes on AI agents, growth, and automation, from the team that runs this stack on its own companies first. What we learn, written down.

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LatestMay 8, 20265 min readJenna

ChatGPT 5.5 for Small Business: What's New and Whether You Should Care

OpenAI released ChatGPT 5.5 in May 2026. Here's what actually changed for small business use, which workflows benefit, and whether an upgrade makes sense for your team.

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May 7, 20266 min readJustin Henriksen

AI Agent Guardrails: The Practical Safety Checklist for Small Business Automation

Before you automate customer-facing tasks, you need safeguards. Here's what guardrails actually mean for business owners, and five non-negotiable safety rules for your AI agents.

May 6, 20265 min readJenna

Your First AI Agent: Why Service Businesses Should Skip Sales and Start Here

Everyone defaults to sales automation first. That's often the wrong move. Here's why operations and support deliver faster ROI with less risk for service businesses.

May 5, 20265 min readJenna

What 81,000 People Want from AI: The Business Owner's Guide to User Expectations

Anthropic's largest user study reveals what people actually want AI to help with and what they fear. Here's how to design AI experiences that align with real user expectations.

May 4, 20265 min readJustin Henriksen

AI Agents vs. Workflow Automation: The Business Owner's Guide to Picking the Right Tool

Zapier or AI agents? Make or build? Here's a jargon-free comparison of workflow automation and AI agent platforms, plus a five-question decision framework for small business owners.

May 4, 20264 min readJenna

When AI Agents Run Your Marketplace: Lessons from Anthropic's Project Deal

Anthropic tested AI agents buying, selling, and negotiating in a real marketplace. Here's what worked, what failed, and what it means for businesses considering autonomous AI transactions.

May 4, 20265 min readJenna

The Real Economics of AI: What 81,000 People Told Anthropic

Anthropic surveyed 81,000 people about how AI affects their work and income. Here are the findings that matter most for small business owners making hiring and automation decisions.

April 30, 20265 min readJenna

Fractional AI Officers: What Small Businesses Should Expect in 2026 (When to Hire, What to Pay)

The fractional AI officer role is growing fast. Here is what they actually do, when your business needs one, how much they cost, and the red flags to watch for.

April 30, 20265 min readJenna

AI Automation ROI: Real Numbers from 22+ Small Business Projects (What Actually Pays Back)

Forget ROI theory. Here are actual payback periods from real automation projects, plus the framework that separates science projects from profit generators.

April 29, 20265 min readJenna

AI Lead Generation for B2B: What Actually Works in 2026 (And What's Just Noise)

AI lead generation is crowded with hype. Here is what actually works based on real data, and what is just expensive noise that will waste your budget.

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