The Green Sheet Online Edition
April 4, 2025 • 25:04:01
Street SmartsSM
How will you use AI in 2025?
Of all the changes I've seen in payments, nothing compares to artificial intelligence. AI has given humans powerful new capabilities and tools that are changing the game for ISOs and merchant level salespeople (MLSs). Some people are worried about AI, but I don't think AI will replace us; I think humans who know how to use AI tools will replace the ones who don't. I already see this happening, and Felipe Chaves, CEO at Triplo, says we're still in early days.
In a recent episode of the B2B Vault podcast, Chaves compared AI to a young, highly skilled but inexperienced analyst that responds well to certain types of questions. Unlike humans, who are shaped by what we learn, he said, AI models acquire knowledge but fundamentally stay the same.
"[AI is] just an analyst and not as skilled as you are," he said. "AI has a huge memory; every time you type, it's memorizing more about you, your style and what you're doing."
Chaves went on to say that AI-powered assistants can help people and companies be more efficient and effective in numerous ways, including the following examples:
- Real-time data: Immediately answer questions on a variety of topics, with multiple research citations.
- Create content: Draft essays, blog posts, professional documents, product descriptions and more.
- Enhance content: Analyze and enhance writing by checking spelling and grammar and adapting word choices to an executive's preferred style.
- Translate and repurpose content: Translate content into other languages and rewrite existing content when given a URL or draft copy.
- Drive social media engagement: Draft emails, social media posts and responses to social media commentary in real time.
Opportunities for payment pros
At our office in South Florida, we use AI tools to determine what keywords to use in our blogs. AI has measurably improved our SEO, according to a recent audit of our website, which confirmed our higher ranking. We've had success using AI to edit videos and continue to find new ways to leverage the technology. Here are a few things we've learned along the way:
- You get what you pay for: If you are going to use AI make sure you have a registered and paid account because then you are training the AI and you will achieve better results.
- Keep an open mind: If you're looking for answers, whether it's new ideas or getting things done faster, consider asking an AI. They can answer questions about all sorts of things.
- Leverage the resource: Never stop looking for ways to leverage AI. We work with a POS vendor that recently added AI to its FAQ. As a result, merchants can ask the AI how to add new employees, how to batch out or any number of things, without having to search through a website or call customer support.
AI-powered payments
I'd be remiss if I didn't add a cautionary note. Now that AI is being used to help with underwriting, risk management and more, let's all stay vigilant to emerging threats. Scammers, for example, use AI to create fake IDs, merchant statements and other documents while doing their best to convince you and your risk department that they're the real deal.
It doesn't hurt to double-check applications, especially ones that come from internet leads. AI makes it easier for fraudsters to look convincing.
Will AI replace us? Some companies will reduce office staff because they can automate quicker and work more efficiently with fewer staff members. However, I don't see massive layoffs happening anytime soon. I agree with Chaves that humans and AIs have complementary skill sets and work well together.
How do you plan to use AI in 2025? If you're just getting started, I encourage you to get an account, start playing around with it and see what you can do! Ask ChatGPT to help with a web search. I won't share all our secrets, but here at the office, we've been using AI in multiple ways since the launch of OpenAI, and like Chaves said, we're still in early days.
Want to know more? Keep reading The Green Sheet and consider following me on LinkedIn, where we can share ideas and support each other. 
Editorial Note: We are delighted that Allen Kopelman will be writing Street Smarts for a second year. There are many reasons for this: his unique writing voice; his ability to write succinct, relevant, informative articles that grab and hold your attention; his breadth of industry knowledge; his nimble way of keeping up with changes and offering ways ISOs and merchant level salespeople can adapt. These qualities and more stand out. But another thing that seals the deal is that he cares deeply about helping dedicated, ethical payments professionals continue to thrive today and far into the future. So, please welcome Allen for another year as Street Smarts author.
Allen Kopelman, a serial entrepreneur, is co-founder and CEO of Nationwide Payment Systems Inc. and host of B2B Vault: The Biz to Biz podcast. Email him at allen@npsbank.com and connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/allenkopelman/ and Twitter @AllenKopelman.
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