Overwhelmed by AI tools? You're not alone. In this episode, we're cutting through the noise to bring you Noel's top 5 AI tools for small business owners in 2026 - tools we actually use every single day.

Discover why Claude beats ChatGPT for business writing, how Google AI Studio lets you build custom apps for free, and why Make.com offers 10x better value than Zapier. We break down what each tool does, how you can use it, and what it costs (including generous free plans).

Perfect for service-based business owners, solopreneurs, and small teams who want sustainable AI solutions that actually move your business forward - not just trendy tools that gather dust.

Links to our Top 5:

• Claude
• Notebook LLM
• Gamma
• Make.com
• Google AI Studio

Episodes mentioned:

• S1. Ep34 - How to Choose Between Zapier, N8N and Make.com for Your Business
• S1. Ep36 - OpenAI's Atlas Browser + Claude Skills: What You Need to Know

How to find us:

Join our membership over on Skool, where we support you on your AI and automation journey. We share exclusive content in the membership that shows you the automations we talks about in action how to build them. Find out more about the AI Business Club here.

We have a free LinkedIn group (AI Automations For Business), the group is open to all.

New for 2026, you can also find us on Substack, click here to subscribe and get all the latest news and updates from us.

If you would like dedicated help with your automations or would like us to build them for you then you can find our agency at makeautomations.ai

Or you can contact us via email at hello@makeautomations.ai.

Send us a text

Is AI really going to replace your virtual assistant? In this episode, Katie and Noel sit down with Ashley Kay, founder of Champagne Collective, to debunk the biggest myths circulating online about VAs and AI. Ashley runs a thriving VA and OBM agency supporting nearly 100 female-owned businesses worldwide, and she's got strong opinions about the "AI will replace VAs" narrative flooding social media.

You'll discover why AI is a powerful tool but not a replacement for human strategic thinking, empathy, and authentic brand voice. Ashley shares fascinating insights from her agency's experience: 50% of clients want AI everywhere, while the other 50% strictly forbid its use. She explains how VA roles are actually evolving upward into strategic OBM positions as AI handles repetitive tasks, the critical importance of transparency when using AI in client work, and why consumers can instantly spot AI-generated content (and why that matters for your business).

Perfect for business owners navigating the AI-versus-human support decision, VAs worried about their future, and anyone who wants to understand how to combine AI tools with human talent effectively.

Learn more about Champagne Collective at champagnecollective.co and follow Ashley on Instagram.

How to find us:

Join our membership over on Skool, where we support you on your AI and automation journey. We share exclusive content in the membership that shows you the automations we talks about in action how to build them. Find out more about the AI Business Club here.

We have a free LinkedIn group (AI Automations For Business), the group is open to all.

New for 2026, you can also find us on Substack, click here to subscribe and get all the latest news and updates from us.

If you would like dedicated help with your automations or would like us to build them for you then you can find our agency at makeautomations.ai

Send us a text

In this episode, Katie and Noel kick off 2026 with a look back at the whirlwind that was AI in 2025. From DeepSeek sparking the reasoning model race to ChatGPT images breaking the internet with Ghibli trends, it's hard to believe how much has changed in just 12 months.

They reflect on the rise of AI agents, how platforms like Make.com and N8N scrambled to keep up, and the game-changing arrival of MCP (Model Context Protocol). Plus, they discuss how AI-generated images have become so realistic that stock photo sites are now selling them.

Most importantly, they share their bold 2026 predictions, including why Google might overtake OpenAI, what Johnny Ive's mystery hardware product could be, whether AGI is actually coming this year, and how AI could start impacting the job market.

if you build AI agents in Make and/or n8n and need an easy way to chat with them on go from your iPhone, then check out Noel's new app AgentChat on the iOS app store.

Download AgentChat

How to find us:

Join our membership over on Skool, where we support you on your AI and automation journey. We share exclusive content in the membership that shows you the automations we talks about in action how to build them. Find out more about the AI Business Club here.

We have a free LinkedIn group (AI Automations For Business), the group is open to all.

New for 2026, you can also find us on Substack, click here to subscribe and get all the latest news and updates from us.

If you would like dedicated help with your automations or would like us to build them for you then you can find our agency at makeautomations.ai

Send us a text