CNN Just Confirmed What We've Been Saying: AI Is Already Changing the Trades (And Your Competition Knows It)
Last week, CNN published something that should grab the attention of every trades business owner: Your plumber has a new favorite tool: ChatGPT.
The article featured Dan Callies from Oak Creek Plumbing in Milwaukee. His 20 plumbers now bring tablets with ChatGPT to every job. They snap photos of broken water heaters, type a few observations, and get troubleshooting recommendations in seconds.
His quote hit home: "Some of our older guys have learned to ask ChatGPT the right questions, and they're kind of amazed with some of answers it comes up with."
Here's what that article reveals that most business owners are missing: AI isn't some distant future thing. It's already changing how the trades work — with or without you.
The Numbers That Should Wake You Up
According to a Housecall Pro survey cited in the CNN piece:
- Over 70% of tradespeople have tried AI tools
- 40% actively use them right now
- Younger workers are leading, but older techs are testing it too
But here's what really caught my attention: Gulfshore Air Conditioning in Florida saw a $370,000 revenue increase in just 30 days after implementing AI marketing automation. They added another $150 per ticket by helping techs work through admin faster.
That's not hype. That's not theory. That's real money hitting real bank accounts.
The Problem: Generic AI Isn't Enough
Look, you've heard about AI. Maybe you've played with ChatGPT. Maybe you've even told your team to "check it out."
But there's a massive gap between playing with ChatGPT and actually using AI to transform your business operations.
The CNN article mentioned something crucial: Before AI, Gulfshore techs had to sift through FIVE different 60-page manuals to find technical information. That's 300 pages of documentation they'd search through on every complex job.
Now? Seconds.
But here's what the article doesn't tell you: They're not just using generic ChatGPT. They're using AI systems integrated with their actual technical documentation.
That's the difference between dabbling and delivering real outcomes.
Why We Built the Tech Copilot
This is exactly why we built the Technical Copilot at Outcome Orbit AI — specifically for trades businesses like HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and marine services.
Think about what your techs deal with every day:
- Multiple equipment manufacturers, each with their own specs
- Updated technical bulletins that arrive monthly
- Warranty procedures that vary by brand
- Troubleshooting steps that change with each model year
- Safety protocols that must be followed exactly
Your experienced techs have built up this knowledge over years. Your newer techs? They're drowning in manuals, calling the office, or worse — winging it.
Here's what our Tech Copilot does:
It takes ALL your technical manuals, manufacturer guides, company procedures, and tribal knowledge — and turns it into an AI-powered assistant that your techs can query in plain English from their phone or tablet.
"What's the warranty process for a Bradford White from 2023?" "How do I diagnose low refrigerant on a Carrier system?" "What are the safety steps for working on a Rinnai tankless?"
Your tech asks the question. The AI pulls the exact answer from your verified documentation. No guessing. No flipping through manuals. No calling the office.
What This Actually Looks Like
Let me paint you a picture of two scenarios:
The Old Way: Your tech arrives at a complex HVAC issue. They've seen something similar before but can't quite remember the exact steps. They call the office. Office person tries to find the manual. Puts tech on hold. Searches through filing cabinets or digital folders. Finds the wrong version. Finally locates it. Reads it to the tech over the phone while the customer watches this whole circus unfold.
Time wasted: 15-30 minutes. Customer confidence: shaken. Likelihood of upselling additional services: near zero.
The Tech Copilot Way: Your tech pulls out their tablet, opens the Tech Copilot app, and asks: "What's the diagnostic procedure for intermittent heating on a Lennox ML296V furnace?" In 10 seconds, they have the complete procedure, including the diagnostic steps, common causes, parts likely needed, safety protocols, and whether it's covered under warranty.
They turn to the customer with confidence: "I see exactly what's happening. Here are your options..."
Time wasted: 10 seconds. Customer confidence: sky-high. Likelihood of upselling: dramatically increased because the tech has time to actually assess the customer's full system.
The Economics Are Straightforward
The CNN article mentions that Laura Ullrich from Indeed nailed it: "People go into the trades because they like doing the hands-on work itself, and if some of the administrative tasks can be automated, then that should help those workers lean into the parts of the job they like."
Translation: Happier techs who can focus on actual work instead of paperwork.
But let's talk about the money because that's what really matters:
Productivity Gains:
- Faster diagnostic time = more jobs per day
- Less time calling the office = happier customers
- Fewer return trips because techs had wrong info = lower costs
- Better first-time fix rates = stronger reputation
Revenue Opportunities:
- Confident techs sell more = higher ticket averages
- Faster service = capacity for more customers
- Professional appearance = premium pricing power
- Training new techs faster = scaling without growing pains
Dan Callies from Oak Creek Plumbing said it perfectly: AI has allowed them to "lower our overhead and provide better services or better value."
That's the whole game. Better service. Lower costs. Higher margins.
Your Competition Is Already Moving
Here's what keeps me up at night: While you're wondering if AI is real, your competition is already using it to win your customers.
The CNN article mentions how schools are already integrating AI into vocational training. That means the next generation of techs hitting the market will expect these tools. They won't want to work for businesses stuck in the past.
Edward McFarlane from the Air Conditioning Contractors of America said it perfectly: "There's some hesitancy, so I wouldn't say they're all in. But the tide is definitely coming in."
The tide IS coming in. The only question is: Are you riding it or getting swept away?
Implementation Is Simpler Than You Think
I know what you're thinking: "This sounds great, Mike, but I'm not a tech person. I don't know how to implement AI."
Good news: You don't have to.
That's literally the whole point of what we do at Outcome Orbit AI. We handle the technical complexity. You get the business results.
Here's our actual process (The Orbit Method):
1. Discover: We sit down with you and figure out what information your techs need most often. What manuals do they reference? What questions do they call the office about? What knowledge do your senior techs have that your junior techs need?
2. Design: We take all that documentation — PDFs, manufacturer guides, your custom procedures, whatever you have — and build a custom Tech Copilot system specifically for YOUR business with YOUR information.
3. Deploy: We set it up on tablets, phones, whatever devices your techs prefer. We train your team (and yes, even "the older guys" pick it up quickly because it's literally just asking questions).
4. Deliver: You start seeing results. Faster jobs. Happier techs. Better customer experiences. Measurable revenue growth.
This isn't a six-month enterprise software implementation. Most of our clients are up and running in weeks, not months.
Why Now?
We're at an inflection point for trades businesses.
The early adopters — like Oak Creek Plumbing and Gulfshore HVAC featured in CNN — are already pulling ahead. They're winning customers with faster, better service. They're attracting better techs who want to work with modern tools. They're building competitive moats that will be hard to overcome.
Meanwhile, businesses waiting for "proof" or "more data" are falling behind without even realizing it.
The data is in. The proof is real. The only question is: Are you going to act on it?
Your Next Step
If you're reading this and thinking "Okay, I get it. But what do I actually DO?", here's my advice:
Start small. Start focused. Start with outcomes that matter.
You don't need to transform your entire business overnight. You need one measurable win that proves the concept.
For most trades businesses, that first win is giving your techs faster access to technical information. That's exactly what our Tech Copilot delivers.
Here's what I recommend:
- Think about the information bottlenecks in your business — What do your techs call the office about? What manuals do they reference most? What questions do new techs ask repeatedly?
- Calculate the time cost — How many hours per week does your team waste searching for information? Multiply that by your hourly rate. That's your opportunity cost.
- Imagine the upside — What if your techs could work 15% faster? What if they could confidently upsell maintenance agreements? What if you could train new techs in half the time?
- Take action — Reach out to us at Outcome Orbit AI. We'll walk you through exactly how this works for businesses like yours. No pressure. No BS. Just clarity on whether this makes sense for you.
The businesses featured in that CNN article? They're not special. They're not tech geniuses. They're just trades businesses that decided to lead instead of follow.
You can be one of them.
The question isn't whether AI is coming to the trades. According to CNN, it's already here. The question is whether you're going to use it to pull ahead or watch from the sidelines as your competition does.
Ready to see how a Tech Copilot could work for your business?
We're not about hype. We're about outcomes. Let's have a real conversation about whether this makes sense for you.
Want to learn more about how we help trades businesses implement AI solutions that actually deliver measurable results? Check out our other articles:
- Stop Overthinking AI: 3 Simple Steps That Actually Work for Small Businesses
- The Real Talk About AI in Small Business: 3 Game-Changing Opportunities (That Actually Work)
Growth, Automated isn't just our tagline. It's what happens when you stop wondering and start implementing.
