Making Technology Work for Small Businesses with Obsidian AI Labs When Brandon Dietz founded Obsidian AI Labs earlier this year, his goal wasn’t to create flashy technology for the sake of it; it was to help small businesses save time and energy by making their systems work smarter. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Brandon moved to Canada at the age of ten and a couple of years ago, settled in St. Thomas. “I feel like I’ve branched out more here,” he says. “Maybe it’s just that season of my life, but I’ve felt more comfortable taking on new things.” His background is firmly rooted in technology. After completing a Computer Systems Technology diploma at Fanshawe College, Brandon gained experience working with companies such as Things Engraved in Kitchener, and Compass Group in London. He has also spent nearly a decade specializing in cybersecurity and penetration testing. “At the end of the day, I was an ethical hacker,” he explains. “It was exciting, there was always something new to learn.” At Obsidian AI Labs, Brandon is not focused on selling AI for its own sake, but on how he can utilize it to help his clients more effectively by solving their problems. “Not everybody needs AI in everything,” he points out. “Sometimes it’s about connecting the tools you already have. Automation can save hours of repetitive work, like sending 150 nearly identical emails, so that business owners can focus on what matters most.” For many small businesses, that kind of help can be trans- formative. Brandon sees solo entrepreneurs and startups
as his ideal clients -- peo- ple wearing many hats, often overwhelmed by day-to-day demands. “Technology is a nuisance for a lot of people,” he notes. “I want to build sys- tems that work so they can spend their time on the parts of their business they love.” Brandon has been actively in- volved with groups such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Young Entrepreneurs
Initiative, and he’s exploring opportunities to share his ex- pertise with local entrepreneurs through workshops and col- laborations. “There’s still a lot of fear around AI,” he admits. “But when people see it as just another tool to make life easier, it opens up a lot of possibilities.” “AI is here; it’s not going anywhere,” Brandon insists. “The important thing is making sure that when you use it, it’s working for you and not against you. It’s not as scary as it seems. You don’t have to use the things you don’t like, but there are still so many opportunities to put the right systems in place, ones that make your work easier and give you back your time.” To talk to Brandon about how Obsidian AI Labs can make your business more efficient, check out his website at obsidianailabs.ca.
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