AI has changed how I work, but not by replacing judgement. It is most useful for compressing the slow, repetitive parts of a project so I can spend more time on the decisions that actually move results.
Where it helps
Clustering keywords and mapping them to pages, drafting outlines from a clear brief, turning a messy crawl export into a prioritised fix list, and writing boilerplate code and schema faster. Used well, it removes hours of grunt work per project.
Where I keep humans in the loop
Strategy, technical judgement, and anything a client will publish under their name. AI output is a strong first draft, not a finished decision — every recommendation still gets checked against real data.
The point is leverage
The goal is not to cut corners; it is to move faster without lowering the bar. AI-assisted workflows let a solo consultant deliver the depth a bigger team usually would.