The AI Revolution Isn’t Coming — It’s Already Here

The AI revolution isn’t something on the horizon. It’s already here, and it’s happening faster than most people realize. When OpenAI launched ChatGPT on November 30, 2022, few could have predicted how quickly it would change the way people work, learn, and communicate. Less than three years later, ChatGPT already has over 700 million users worldwide, making it one of the fastest-growing technologies in history. And it’s not slowing down.

People use AI in their daily lives in ways that have quickly become second nature: drafting sharper emails, doing research for school or work, reworking resumes, summarizing long documents, learning new topics on demand, and more. What used to require hours of work — or even hiring outside help — can now be done in minutes with a simple prompt.

But the real story isn’t just how individuals are using AI. It’s how businesses are embracing it at scale. Among the countless experiments and hype cycles, two use cases have already proven themselves indispensable for companies of every size — from scrappy start-ups to the world’s largest enterprises.

Coding and Coding Assistance: A New Era of Software Development

For decades, writing code was the domain of specialized engineers who invested years of training to build software. That hasn’t changed — but the way software gets written is being transformed forever. AI coding assistants, led by innovators like Cursor, Lovable, Replit, Claude Code, and GitHub Copilot, have become essential tools in the modern developer’s workflow.

These systems don’t just autocomplete lines of code. They understand the context of what a developer is building and can generate entire functions, fix bugs, and even suggest architectural improvements. Developers spend less time fighting syntax errors and more time thinking strategically about product design. It’s like having a seasoned engineer pair-programming with you, available 24/7.

The benefits for businesses are massive. Faster development cycles mean new products reach the market sooner. Teams can build more with fewer resources, which is especially important in a world where engineering talent is scarce and expensive. Quality also improves, because AI can spot errors or vulnerabilities humans might miss. The net result? Companies can innovate more quickly, cut costs, and deliver better digital experiences to their customers. Software has always been the engine of modern business — and AI just gave that engine a turbo boost.

Customer Support: From Cost Center to Competitive Advantage

If coding was the first big AI use case to take off, customer support is the second — and it might ultimately touch more businesses than any other. For decades, customer service has been a pain point. Long wait times, frustrated customers, overwhelmed agents — all familiar stories. But AI is rewriting that script.

New platforms like Sierra, launched by the ex co-CEO of Salesforce, and Decagon, one of the fastest-growing players in AI customer support, are showing what’s possible when AI handles the heavy lifting. Instead of bots that frustrate customers with canned answers, these AI systems can truly understand customer intent, carry on natural conversations, and resolve most issues end-to-end.

The impact for businesses is hard to overstate. Customer support is no longer just a cost center to minimize — it’s becoming a source of loyalty and differentiation. AI makes it possible to respond instantly, at scale, in a way that feels personal. Customers don’t care whether it’s a human or AI answering their question; they care that it’s fast, accurate, and helpful. Meanwhile, human agents can focus on the most complex or sensitive cases, instead of drowning in repetitive “where’s my order?” tickets. The result: lower costs, happier customers, and stronger brands.

Why Service Businesses Can’t Afford to Wait

Here’s the truth: service businesses have always been behind the curve when it comes to technology adoption. While big enterprises jumped on ERP systems, cloud software, and analytics years ago, many local service businesses were still relying on phone calls, spreadsheets, and sticky notes. That lag made sense — smaller teams don’t have the budget or expertise to chase every new trend.

But customer support is different. It’s been a thorn in the side of service businesses forever. Whether you run a plumbing company, a landscaping crew, or a cleaning service, the challenge is the same: you can’t afford a large call center, training is hard, and resources are tight. Customers call in after hours, questions pile up, and opportunities are lost simply because no one picked up the phone.

This is where Distance comes in. We’re building AI-powered customer engagement specifically for the service industry. And here’s the key insight: in service businesses, customer support isn’t just support. It’s also sales. That first touchpoint — whether it’s answering a new lead, scheduling an appointment, or providing a quick quote — is often the moment that determines whether a customer books with you or goes to a competitor. Support is also where upsells happen (“Would you like to add gutter cleaning to your window wash?”) and where retention is built (“We’d love to book your next service while we’re here”).

AI finally makes it possible for service businesses to deliver that kind of responsive, personalized, always-on support that wins customers and keeps them coming back. With the right tools, even the smallest company can compete with the biggest players.

The AI revolution is already here. And for service businesses, customer communication isn’t a side task — it is the business. Those who move quickly will win more customers, grow faster, and build stronger relationships. Those who hesitate will keep struggling with the same old challenges.

This isn’t the time to wait and see. It’s the time to act. Because in the age of AI, the companies that respond fastest aren’t just delivering good service — they’re capturing the future of this industry.