What AI strategist Ed Troxel wants every small business owner—and every professional—to know about the future of work.

Artificial intelligence is dominating headlines.

Depending on who you ask, it’s either the greatest productivity tool of our generation or the technology that’s about to eliminate millions of jobs.

The reality is probably somewhere in the middle.

That’s exactly why Fairfield City Councilmember K. Patrice Williams launched the AI Workforce Series, to move beyond the headlines and create practical conversations that help people understand what AI actually means for their careers, businesses, and communities.

Rather than focusing on fear, the series focuses on opportunity.

The first conversation featured Ed Troxel, a strategic marketing advisor who helps coaches, consultants, and small business owners build stronger businesses by combining their expertise with modern AI tools.

One message emerged almost immediately.

AI isn’t replacing experience.

It’s making experience more valuable than ever.

Why We Started This Series

During the conversation, Councilmember Williams explained that this series was born out of a simple observation.

Across California and particularly here in Solano County, the workforce is changing rapidly. Layoffs have become increasingly common. Entire industries are evolving. People who have spent decades building careers are wondering what comes next. At the same time, artificial intelligence is becoming part of nearly every profession.

Rather than waiting for these changes to happen to our communities, Councilmember Williams believes we should prepare people to succeed within them.

“As a councilmember, I want to make sure our community has access to practical information that helps people adapt, grow, and create new opportunities.”

That philosophy became the foundation for the AI Workforce Series.

“You Don’t Need to Learn Everything”

One of the first myths Ed wanted to challenge was the idea that people need to become AI experts before they can benefit from artificial intelligence.

“You don’t,” he explained.

In fact, trying to keep up with every new AI platform is impossible.New tools appear almost daily. Existing platforms add new features constantly. What’s cutting-edge today may become standard tomorrow. Instead of chasing every new application, Ed recommends something much simpler.

Solve problems.

If a repetitive task consumes part of your day, AI can probably help with it. For a small business owner, that might mean:

• Drafting emails
• Brainstorming marketing ideas
• Writing social media posts
• Organizing meeting notes
• Creating proposals
• Summarizing research
• Developing presentations

The objective isn’t to master dozens of AI applications. It’s to reclaim your time. Every hour AI saves on repetitive work is another hour that can be invested in customers, relationships, strategy, or growing your business.

Your Greatest Asset Isn’t AI It’s Your Experience.

Councilmember Williams shifted the conversation toward one of the biggest concerns facing today’s workforce.

“What about people who’ve spent twenty or thirty years building expertise in a profession?” she asked.

Many experienced professionals worry that AI somehow makes those years less valuable.Ed sees exactly the opposite.

Your knowledge is the one thing AI doesn’t have. AI doesn’t understand your customers. It doesn’t know your community. It hasn’t spent decades solving problems, navigating challenges, or building relationships.

You have.

What AI can do is help package that expertise much faster than ever before.

Instead of spending weeks creating presentations, writing educational materials, developing marketing copy, or building a website, professionals can now create strong first drafts in minutes.

That doesn’t eliminate the need for experience. It allows experience to reach more people.

As Ed put it throughout the discussion, AI isn’t doing your thinking.It’s helping you get your thinking into the world faster.

Small Business Has Never Had More Leverage

Perhaps nowhere is AI creating more opportunity than in small business. For decades, large companies enjoyed advantages that entrepreneurs simply couldn’t afford.

• Marketing departments.
• Graphic designers.
• Copywriters.
• Research teams.
• Administrative staff.

Today, many of those capabilities are available to a solo entrepreneur with the right AI tools.

That doesn’t mean AI replaces employees. It means entrepreneurs can spend less time buried in administrative work and more time doing what actually grows their businesses.

• Relationships.
• Networking.
• Serving customers.
• Creating value.

In many ways, AI is leveling the playing field.

Small businesses can now move with a speed that was once reserved for much larger organizations.

AI Is Becoming a Workforce Skill

Throughout the conversation, one idea continued to surface.

This discussion isn’t really about technology. It’s about workforce development.

Learning to use AI is quickly becoming similar to learning email, spreadsheets, or search engines. It’s becoming part of modern professional literacy. The professionals who begin experimenting today won’t necessarily know everything. But they’ll develop confidence.

And confidence creates momentum.

The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is progress.

Curiosity Beats Confidence

One of the most refreshing moments in the interview came when the conversation turned toward beginners. People often assume they’re behind. That everyone else already knows how to use AI. 

The truth is much simpler. Everyone is still learning.

The technology is evolving so quickly that even experts are constantly experimenting with new tools, refining workflows, and discovering better ways to work. That means you don’t need confidence before you begin.

You need curiosity.

Ask questions.

Try different prompts.

Experiment.

See what works.

Keep what helps.

Discard what doesn’t.

Progress comes from practice, not perfection.

Looking Ahead

This conversation is only the beginning.

Future episodes of the AI Workforce Series will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping careers, entrepreneurship, education, healthcare, government, and economic opportunity.

Our goal isn’t simply to talk about AI. Our goal is to help people use it.

Whether you’re building a business, looking for your next career opportunity, or simply wondering how artificial intelligence fits into your future, one thing became clear during our conversation with Ed Troxel, our experience is still your greatest competitive advantage.

AI simply gives you more ways to put it to work.

About the AI Workforce Series

The AI Workforce Series is an initiative led by Fairfield City Councilmember K. Patrice Williams to help residents, professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders better understand the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence.

Through conversations with industry experts, the series explores practical strategies for workforce development, economic mobility, and preparing our communities for the future of work.