hen it comes to washing a Welsh Terrier or dematting a doodle, Artificial Intelligence (AI) cannot offer you any hands-on grooming assistance. But can it help you in other aspects of your job as a pet grooming professional? You might be surprised…
AI is a branch of computer science that focuses on creating machines capable of performing tasks that previously required human intelligence. Many groomers have incorporated AI into their websites and social media by using programs that cut the main image out of a snapshot and replace the background. This can come in handy when we catch an adorable picture of a dog on our grooming table, but the image is marred by a background cluttered with tools and an errant clump of fur.
One groomer says that she uses AI when creating content for websites: “Sometimes I need help creating an opening sentence for a topic I am writing. If I ask AI, it helps me get started,” she explains.
This particular individual uses an app called ChatGPT, which offers both free and subscription options, and she adds, “The free one offers a surprising amount.”
If you prefer writing in your own words but want to make sure it’s grammatically corrent, there’s an app called Grammarly to help with that. It is a form of what is known as “narrow AI”—a type of artificial intelligence designed to assist people in writing effectively. In additoan, if you have ever written something and had spellcheck suggest you misspelled a word, that is AI at work.
In addition to editing images and creating content, there are AI platforms that can help groomers with scheduling, client reminders and customer management. AI can also generate inventory lists complete with predictive analytics to help prevent over- or understocking of vital supplies.
But wait, there’s more! Let’s say a customer calls to schedule an appointment for a Barbet. This is a rare breed, and you have never worked on one before. If you go to your favorite search engine and type in “How to groom a Barbet,” you will get options to go to various sites where you can view videos, read articles and access the link to the Barbet Club of America, where you will find lots of information.
All of this is wildly useful, but if you want something very quickly, try the same question on an AI site. AI looks, gathers and constructs information from some of those links, and in seconds it presents you with a comprehensive and informative article on the topic you are interested in.
Several groomers in online groups have recommended using AI to help word messages to customers when they need to reply to a question or complaint tactfully, but are having trouble finding the right words. So, you may also find that AI is a help when communicating with people.
There are downsides to AI, of course. One groomer who specializes in social media management and education for pet groomers says, “Some people are starting to use AI to fake before-and-after grooming results. I saw an advertisement where the after photo was obviously AI. It wasn’t even the same dog.
“Too much AI makes a business feel cold,” she continues. “Grooming is personal. It’s about trust, and if our online presence doesn’t reflect that, it’s harder to attract the right kind of client. It removes the human connection that people are searching for.”
Another downside to AI is its environmental impact. The machines that create AI use tremendous amounts of resources, including high energy consumption, heavy carbon emissions and high water usage for cooling the computer servers. According to the AI app ChatGPT, “In some cases, training a model can use millions of liters of water indirectly, depending on how the electricity is generated and cooled.”
Artificial Intelligence is here to stay, and though it may make you feel apprehensive, there are ways in which it can streamline your business and make your life a little easier!