GPT-5 for Small Business: Welcome to the Stone Age
- Jeremy Ryan
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
If you run a small business, GPT-5 is the moment AI stops being a clever autocomplete and starts acting like a junior teammate. In this episode, Jeremy and Jim break down why reviewers call it a “Stone Age” shift: early and a little clunky, but foundational—like flint before the furnace. Expect agentic behavior (planning, executing, retrying), model routing for speed vs. depth, and native tool use that strings steps together without hand-holding. We also cover where it’s overhyped, where it already sings for operators, and how to adapt your workflows so you’re not left behind.
Key takeaways
GPT-5 plans tasks, executes code, and self-corrects—less chatbot, more problem-solving intern.
A built-in “router” chooses fast vs. deep reasoning to match the job.
Real-world fit today: analysis, scheduling, and multi-step business workflows—without brittle prompt chains.
Early, raw, and not AGI—but clearly a step toward agentic thinking.
Expect disruption across white-collar work and education; prepare your team and processes now.
What changed with GPT-5 (and why it matters)
From generator → collaborator
Previous models wrote good text; GPT-5 decomposes goals, chooses tools, executes, checks results, and tries again. Think “write the memo → analyze the sheet → chart it → draft the email,” all inside one request. For owners, that means fewer fragile zaps and fewer manual hops between tools.
The router under the hood
Rather than one size fits all, GPT-5 routes easy tasks to lightweight reasoning and pulls in deeper chains for messier problems—like you shifting mental gears between quick emails and complex forecasting.
Safety, still a moving target
You’ll see more “safer partial answers” instead of hard refusals, but red-teamers still find cracks. Use it, but set policy: what can be automated, what requires review, and what never leaves human hands.
FAQ
Is GPT-5 AGI?No. It’s stronger at planning and execution, but not general human-level intelligence. Treat it as a capable collaborator, not a replacement.
What’s the biggest early win for small teams?Multi-step ops and analysis: finance updates, proposal drafts, and light scheduling—jobs that need coordination more than deep domain math.
Do I still need prompts?Yes, but fewer walls of text. Provide goal, guardrails, and examples; let the model plan the rest.
Will it replace roles?Some tasks will compress or vanish; new ones (QA, data curation, agent policy) emerge. Upskill your team around owning outcomes, not steps.
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