Co-Intelligence in Hastings: What Ethan Mollick Can Teach Us About AI (And Why It’s Not Just Sci-Fi Stuff)
DALL·E image of Ethan Mollick, created by HastingsNow.com.
By H-town’s own AI-wrangling wordsmiths
Welcome to the AI Revolution (Don't Worry, It’s Not Skynet)
Alright, Hastings, let’s talk about something other than the weather, Vikings football, or who’s got the best cheese curds in town. We’re diving into AI—not in a creepy, robots-will-take-over way, but in a “Wow, this might actually help my business” kind of way.
And who better to guide us than Ethan Mollick, a professor from Wharton who’s basically the LeBron James of entrepreneurship, innovation, and AI. His new book, "Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI," is shaking up how businesses, educators, and regular folks like us think about artificial intelligence.
But what does that mean for you—whether you’re running a coffee shop on 2nd Street, a roofing business, or a side hustle selling hand-knitted Vikings beanies? Let’s break it down, Hastings style.
Mollick’s Top 10 AI Ideas—Explained for Hastings Businesses
1. AI is Your Intern (But Without the Attitude)
Mollick says AI is like an intern—sometimes brilliant, sometimes a little off, but always available. You wouldn’t trust an intern to run your whole business, but you’d let them draft emails, brainstorm marketing ideas, or analyze customer trends. AI can do the same—except it won’t steal your lunch from the office fridge.
2. The "One-Hour Rule" (AI is Speedy, Use It Wisely)
Mollick suggests businesses dedicate one hour per week to testing AI tools. Think of it like trying a new menu item at Lock and Dam Eatery—if people love it, keep it. If not, at least you tried. Use AI to write social media posts, draft a business plan, or respond to customer reviews faster than you can say "HastingsNow Local 10."
3. AI Levels the Playing Field (Your Secret Weapon Against Big Brands)
Big corporations spend millions on marketing, but with AI, your small business can generate the same high-quality ads, emails, and customer insights—for pennies. Imagine if your local shop had the same marketing power as Amazon, minus the drone deliveries.
4. AI is Like a Soufflé—You Need the Right Mix of Human & Machine
Mollick says AI should enhance, not replace, human creativity. Think of it like a Spiral Foods croissant—flaky layers of human insight with a buttery AI boost. If you let AI do too much, it gets weird (like that one time someone tried to put lutefisk on a burger—why?).
5. “Prompting” AI is an Art (It’s Like Talking to a Minnesotan in January)
AI is powerful, but it responds best to clear, detailed instructions. Think of it like asking a Hastings local for directions—if you say “How do I get to Levee Park?” you might get “Just down yonder.” But if you ask “What’s the best way to get to Levee Park while avoiding train traffic?” you’ll get a precise answer. AI works the same way—ask better, get better.
6. AI as Your Business Coach (Without the Expensive Seminars)
Need a business plan? Marketing strategy? Customer insights? AI can generate a first draft in seconds, giving you a roadmap before you invest a dime. Think of it like a GPS for your business—except it won’t randomly reroute you through Wisconsin.
7. AI Can Predict Trends (Goodbye, Guesswork)
AI tools can analyze local buying habits to help you stock your store or plan your services. If AI notices an uptick in people searching for gluten-free options in Hastings, you can jump on that before your competition does. It’s like insider trading—except legal.
8. AI Saves Time (More Fishing, Less Admin Work)
Mollick highlights how AI can automate time-sucking tasks like scheduling, answering customer FAQs, and summarizing emails. Translation? More time for you to do what you actually love, whether that’s fishing on the St. Croix or finally fixing that squeaky door at your shop.
9. AI Won’t Replace You—But People Who Use AI Might
AI isn’t going to steal your job, but businesses that ignore it might get left behind. It’s like back when the internet first hit—businesses that adapted thrived, and those that didn’t… well, they’re now cautionary tales.
10. AI is a Hastings Helper, Not a Hype Machine
Mollick believes AI is a practical tool, not magic. It won’t make you rich overnight, but it will help you make smarter decisions, communicate better, and work more efficiently. AI isn’t replacing the Hastings hustle—it’s enhancing it.
How Can Hastings Businesses Use These Ideas Right Now?
🔹 Local Restaurants – Use AI to write mouth-watering menu descriptions that make customers drool before they even step in the door.
🔹 Retail Shops – Generate SEO-optimized product descriptions so your online store ranks higher than your cousin’s Etsy page.
🔹 Service Businesses – Automate appointment bookings and FAQs so you spend less time answering calls and more time making money.
🔹 Artists & Creators – Get AI to help with writing grant applications, designing logos, or brainstorming new product ideas.
🔹 Nonprofits & Community Groups – Use AI to draft grant proposals, create social media campaigns, and analyze community engagement.
Final Thought: Hastings, Don’t Sleep on This.
AI isn’t coming—it’s here. And while it won’t replace Hastings’ best small businesses, it will supercharge the ones that use it right. So, take a page out of Mollick’s book (literally) and start playing with AI for just one hour a week. Your business, your sanity, and maybe even your fishing schedule will thank you.
Want more insights like this? Stick with HastingsNow.com, your local hub for keeping it real, staying informed, and never falling behind the curve (unless it’s a scenic one on Highway 61).
