Transforming Business and Life in Westchester Through AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) has transcended its role in revolutionizing business strategies; it’s also seamlessly integrating into the very fabric of everyday life, reshaping how we job-hunt, communicate, plan, and manage daily chaos. This subtle yet profound transformation is exemplified by Rose Salem-Tilford, founder and CEO of 360 Business Coach and the innovative mind behind AI Rose.

“You know, it’s funny,” Salem-Tilford recalls. “It clicked for me right away. I think I started using it in February of 2023.” From the onset, AI became an invaluable assistant in her professional toolkit. Initially, she implemented it to enhance business communication—crafting emails, shaping marketing strategies, and developing client content. However, it didn’t take long for her to discover its potential for research, scheduling, and planning. While she remains diligent about verifying information, AI has woven itself into the very fabric of her workflow.

“Over time, AI basically made its way into every part of my life,” she states, highlighting the versatility of AI as her daily companion.

As she grew comfortable using AI in her professional endeavors, Salem-Tilford ventured into the realm of personal tasks. Her apprehension about traditional list-making led her to enlist AI for generating grocery lists and even crafting a recipe for chicken wings. “That wing recipe saved me in a pinch and is now a crowd favorite among friends and family,” she shares. This anecdote underscores how AI can extend beyond business to inject creativity and ease into daily life.

Mastering the Art of the Prompt

Yet, AI’s effectiveness is not a guarantee; it heavily relies on the quality of the input it receives. Salem-Tilford emphasizes this by saying, “Prompting is really the key.” The phrase “garbage in, garbage out” perfectly encapsulates the crux of effective AI utilization. If one fails to provide precise instructions, the results can be less than satisfactory.

Salem-Tilford explains that AI can also struggle with vague questions. For instance, if you ask how many small businesses were created last year, it may not clarify whether you’re referring to a local, national, or global context. The specificity of your inquiry directly translates to the quality of the response. As with many processes involving AI, it often requires trial and error to achieve the desired results. This need for double-checking is crucial.

“It’s about knowing how to direct AI tools to use them efficiently,” she states, predicting that “prompting, automation, and tool integration will be the new workplace fundamentals.” She recommends familiarizing oneself with various AI tools, as each offers unique strengths. Beyond ChatGPT, platforms like DeepSeek, Grok, Gemini, and Lumen5 specialize in research, imagery, video, or writing, effectively catering to diverse needs. In 2025, Salem-Tilford took this innovation a step further by launching the first AI business coach powered by IBM WatsonX.

Meet AI Rose

AI Rose isn’t just a standard AI application; it embodies principles of positive, action-based coaching. “She’s not just a business coach; she’s your everyday coach,” Salem-Tilford clarifies, indicating the versatile nature of the platform.

Designed for real-time, hyper-personalized coaching, AI Rose operates through a lifelike avatar, leveraging IBM WatsonX to provide tailored business insights and strategies specifically for entrepreneurs. Unlike conventional chatbots, AI Rose offers exclusive, curated content aimed solely at business owners. “People ask, ‘What’s the difference?’ Well, it’s a huge difference,” she insists, defining the platform’s niche advantage in the crowded AI landscape.

Clients can turn to the avatar for targeted advice, strategic guidance, or to brainstorm long-term initiatives. Far from a replacement for human insight, Salem-Tilford envisions AI Rose as a supportive tool that enhances the coaching experience.

Building Confidence at Work

With the increasing incorporation of AI in the workplace, employers now anticipate that employees will possess a foundational understanding of this technology. Salem-Tilford advises business owners to introduce AI gradually, in a low-stakes manner. “I would definitely start with one tool,” she recommends, asserting that once acclimated to one application, the transition to others becomes less daunting. “AI is supposed to help us do things we don’t really like to do.”

Interestingly, for those who believe they’ve never used AI, Salem-Tilford gently counters this notion. Many individuals engage with AI daily through common tools like Google, Alexa, and Siri, often without recognizing it. Despite its intimidating reputation, she advocates that the best approach to learning is simply to dive in. Limited experimentation and adaptive strategies yield superior results.

“If companies make AI easy and accessible, something that makes employees’ lives better, then who wouldn’t want to use it? But if you frame it as though something is being taken away, then they won’t be inclined to embrace it,” she explains. Looking ahead, she predicts that in the next five years, AI will increasingly function as a personal assistant, enhancing workflow management, task coordination, and even facilitating the integration of multiple AI tools for collaboration. For entrepreneurs, this means less time wasted on mundane tasks, allowing for greater focus on innovation and creativity.

“AI will become as natural and necessary as having a smartphone,” she asserts, highlighting the strategic advantage for those who adopt this technology early.

Related: Westchester Businesses Welcome Artificial Intelligence