FAQ
Questions owners ask about AI agents
Straight answers about what AI agents do, what they cost and how to start. If yours isn’t here, ask Finn in the corner of this page or book a call.
What is an AI agent, and how is it different from a chatbot?
A chatbot answers a question. An AI agent works toward a goal in several steps: it reads a new lead, looks up the company, updates your CRM and books the call. It uses your tools the way a person on your team would, and it hands anything uncertain to a person instead of guessing.
Is an AI agent worth it for a small business in New York?
It is when it takes over one specific job that repeats every day or week, like answering new inquiries or copying data between tools. It disappoints when a business buys a tool first and looks for a job for it later. Start with the task that eats the most hours, and compare the hours before and after.
What should a New York small business automate first?
Usually one of three jobs: following up with new leads, sorting the inbox, or typing the same data into more than one system. They repeat often, follow clear rules and are easy to check, so you find out quickly whether the agent works. Pick the one that costs your team the most time each week.
How much does an AI agent cost?
There are two bills: building the agent and running it, which is mostly the AI model's usage. My executive assistant agent has published prices: $2,999 to set up, then $229 or $299 a month. Custom agents are priced per workflow after a short discovery. If you already run AI, a token cost review shows where the running bill goes.
Will an AI agent replace my employees?
No. It takes the busywork, not the people. The agent handles the volume: the sorting, copying, scheduling and first drafts. Your team keeps the judgement calls, the relationships and the final say on anything that matters, and gets back time for the work you hired them to do in the first place.
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Can it work with Gmail, Outlook or my CRM?
In almost every case, yes. I connect the agent to the tools your team already uses, such as Gmail or Outlook, your calendar, your CRM and your spreadsheets, so nobody has to learn a new system. If a tool has no way to connect, I'll tell you on the discovery call, before any work starts.
Is my data safe?
Your data stays confidential. The agent gets only the access it needs to do its job, what it does is logged, and your information is not used to train public models. I can sign a mutual NDA before we look at anything in detail, and you'll know exactly which systems the agent can touch.
What happens if the agent makes a mistake?
I build agents so a mistake is caught before it reaches a customer. Anything risky, like sending an email in your name or changing a record, waits for a person to approve it. The rules for what the agent may do alone are written in code, not left to the AI, and every step is logged.
How long does setup take, and do I need to be technical?
The executive assistant agent is usually running within about a week. A custom agent for one workflow takes five to nine weeks, from first call to go-live. You don't need to be technical, because I do the build. You need someone who knows how the work is done today and can check the agent's results.
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Should I use ChatGPT, Zapier or Dots myself, or hire someone?
Do it yourself for one simple workflow that wouldn't hurt much if it broke. Get help when it touches sensitive data, connects several systems, or would be costly to get wrong. And if you like Dots, keep it: I don't compete with Dots. I set it up and keep it safe for you.
Do you work with New York businesses outside Manhattan?
Yes. I work with businesses in all five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. We can meet at my office at 1412 Broadway in Midtown, at yours, or on a video call, whichever is easier for you. Most of the work itself happens remotely, inside the tools you already use.
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How we start
A 30-minute discovery call. You tell me what’s eating your week, and I tell you honestly whether an agent fits and what it would take.