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Talisman AI Wayfinder

Latest insights into AI for SMEs
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AI Strategy & Readiness
AI adoption starts with strategy. In this category, we share insights on readiness, planning, and aligning AI with your business goals. Learn how SMEs can prepare, assess opportunities, and create smarter strategies for success


FOTO #3 – From AI Readiness to AI Capability
Most organisations now recognise that AI matters, but recognising its importance isn’t the same as being able to use it effectively. In FOTO #3, Roger Wilson explores the critical difference between AI readiness and AI capability, and why practical experience is the bridge between the two.
Jul 103 min read


AI FOTO™ 02: From Tool Collecting to Strategic AI Adoption
AI is transforming the way organisations work, but buying more AI tools rarely leads to better business outcomes on its own. In the second article of the FOTO (From Obstacles to Outcomes) series, Roger Wilson examines why many organisations become trapped in ‘tool collecting’ and explains how a more strategic approach to AI adoption can unlock measurable value, stronger organisational capability and lasting competitive advantage.
Jun 264 min read


Chatbots vs Voice AI: Are Businesses Solving the Wrong Problem?
Many businesses assume a chatbot is the obvious first step into AI. But what if the real opportunity lies elsewhere? Explore why Voice AI, customer experience and solving the right business problem matter more than the latest technology.
Jun 2413 min read


AI FOTO™ 01: From AI Anxiety to AI Confidence
AI adoption starts with confidence, not technology. In the first article of the AI FOTO™ series, Roger Wilson explores why so many organisations feel uncertain about AI and what leaders can do to turn anxiety into purposeful action.
Jun 153 min read


Most SMEs Are Not AI Ready.They’re AI Exposed.
Most SMEs believe they’re adopting AI. In reality, many are experimenting without strategy, governance or direction. Discover the difference between being AI ready and being AI exposed.
Jun 25 min read


After Nine Months Helping Organisations Adopt AI, Here's What I've Learned
After nine months working with organisations across different sectors, a number of themes have emerged. In this reflective article, Roger Wilson shares what he has learned about AI adoption, organisational readiness, capability building and why successful AI initiatives are rarely about technology alone.
Jun 14 min read


How SMEs Can Build AI Capability From the Ground Up
Most SMEs already have AI tools. What they're missing is a structured path to real capability. This post introduces Talisman's Explore, Enable, Embed approach — a practical framework for building AI capability from the ground up, in the right sequence.
May 218 min read


AI Readiness for SMEs — They'd Already Tried AI. It Changed Nothing. Here's What We Did Instead.
An SME spent months using AI tools and got nowhere. Talisman's AI Readiness Assessment revealed exactly why — and what changed everything. If this sounds familiar, start here.
May 207 min read


AI Readiness for SMEs: Let's Be Honest — You're Not Really Using AI
There. Someone had to say it. You've got ChatGPT bookmarked. Maybe you've used it to tidy up an email or two. Someone on the team suggested you "look into AI" at a meeting six months ago, and everyone nodded enthusiastically. You might even have it mentioned somewhere in your business strategy. But are you actually using AI? In any meaningful, business-changing way? For most SMEs, the honest answer is no. The Gap Between Talking About AI and Using AI There's a vast difference
May 153 min read


AI and Neurodiversity: Why AI Is Not Neutral for Neurodivergent Minds
AI is changing how people work — but not everyone experiences that change in the same way.
For neurodivergent professionals, particularly those with ADHD or autism, AI can be both empowering and overwhelming. It can reduce cognitive load, improve communication, and unlock productivity — while also amplifying burnout, masking, distraction, and fatigue when introduced without structure or clarity.
This article explores the hidden psychological impact of AI adoption in SMEs, w
May 136 min read


Anthropic’s “Mythos”: Hype, Threat… or a Wake-Up Call for SMEs?
Forget the doom headlines. The real AI threat to SMEs isn't Anthropic's "Mythos" — it's competitors quietly building structured, practical AI capability while you hesitate.
Apr 233 min read


Most SMEs Don’t Have an AI Problem. They Have a Translation Problem.
Most SMEs don't have an AI problem — they have a translation problem. Vendors describe capabilities; business owners ask about outcomes. The gap between the two is quietly costing real money. Here's the three-sentence test I now run before any AI initiative gets approved.
Apr 175 min read


The Great AI Delusion: Why Businesses Are Spending Billions to Fall Behind - AI Strategy in 2026
$242 billion invested. 95% of pilots failing. Talisman cuts through the AI hype to show what's really happening — and how smart businesses are pulling ahead.
Apr 96 min read


7 Signs Your Business Systems Aren’t Working Together
Many SMEs use multiple software tools but still struggle with admin and fragmented processes. Here are seven signs your business systems aren’t working together — and what to do about it.
Mar 43 min read


Stop Buying AI Tools. Start Thinking.
Buying AI tools feels like progress. But without clarity, they create noise, risk and wasted investment. Here’s why disciplined thinking — not technology — is the real competitive advantage.
Mar 23 min read
AI in the Workplace: Why Employees “Smuggle” AI Into Work – and What That’s Really Telling Us
AI doesn’t disappear when organisations avoid the conversation – it goes underground. As more employees quietly adopt AI tools at work, this article looks at why “AI smuggling” happens, what it reveals about organisational readiness, and how clear guidance and calm leadership can turn hidden use into responsible adoption.
Feb 43 min read


Why Most Businesses Get AI Strategy Wrong
AI strategy for business isn’t about choosing the right tools or moving fast. It’s about readiness — leadership clarity, decision ownership, and organisational maturity. This piece explores why AI is less a technical disruption and more a reckoning for how businesses really operate, and what thoughtful leaders are doing differently to build lasting advantage.
Jan 273 min read


Getting a Grip on AI for Your Business in 2026
AI is no longer a future concept — it’s fast becoming the operating environment for modern businesses. As we head into 2026, organisations that fail to get a grip on AI risk falling behind competitors who are already using it to move faster, work smarter, and create real advantage. This thought leadership piece explores how AI is evolving, why inaction is now a strategic risk, and sets out a practical, low-regret path for businesses to take control — turning AI from a source
Jan 95 min read
Why Aren’t Our Customers Buying From Us? How AI for Customer Engagement can Help
Many organisations invest heavily in marketing and sales, yet still struggle to convert interest into customers. Often, the problem isn’t effort but insight. This article explores why customers don’t buy, where organisations lose visibility across the customer journey, and how AI — used properly — can help uncover friction points, improve engagement and drive real business outcomes.
Dec 15, 20254 min read
AI for Sales Growth - A Definitive Guide to Increasing Sales With AI
Want to win more customers with less effort? AI can help you generate stronger leads, personalise every interaction and spend more time selling. Here’s how businesses can boost sales with AI today.
Dec 9, 20253 min read
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