AI News Today: How South Carolina Businesses Are Using Artificial Intelligence Right Now

Introduction

Artificial intelligence isn’t something South Carolina businesses are “thinking about someday.” It’s already here, quietly changing how companies market, operate, hire, and grow. Across the state, organizations are experimenting with AI tools to save time, reduce costs, and make better decisions. Some are doing it well. Others are learning the hard way that AI isn’t magic...it’s strategy.

In this edition of AI News Today: South Carolina, we take a grounded look at how artificial intelligence is actually being used by businesses right now, what’s working, what’s not, and what leaders should understand before jumping in.

Why This Matters for South Carolina

South Carolina sits at an interesting crossroads. We have strong manufacturing roots, growing tech talent, major universities, and a business climate that rewards efficiency. AI fits naturally into that mix but only if it’s applied with intention. For local businesses, AI isn’t about replacing people. It’s about staying competitive as larger companies adopt automation faster. Ignoring AI doesn’t freeze the market in place it just widens the gap. This is why AI News Today: South Carolina Edition exists: to translate national AI trends into local, practical insight.

Artificial intelligence in South Carolina: The Current Landscape

Right now, AI adoption in South Carolina is uneven and that’s normal. Some companies are using AI daily for content creation, customer communication, and analytics. Others are still unsure where AI fits or worry about risk, cost, or complexity. What’s clear is this: AI is no longer limited to tech companies. Marketing firms, manufacturers, healthcare providers, financial services, and even small local businesses are finding entry points that make sense for their size and budget.

Real-World Use Cases in South Carolina

Here’s how AI is being used on the ground:

1. Marketing & Content Businesses are using AI tools to draft emails, write social media captions, analyze campaign performance, and speed up content production — without sacrificing brand voice.

2. Operations & Admin AI-powered assistants are helping teams summarize documents, organize information, and automate repetitive tasks that used to eat up hours.

3. Customer Communication Chat-based tools are improving response times and customer experience, especially for service-driven businesses.

These aren’t futuristic ideas. They’re happening right now across South Carolina.

Tools & Platforms Businesses Are Watching

Several platforms keep coming up in conversations with business leaders:

• ChatGPT for writing, analysis, and internal workflows

• Claude AI for document-heavy and reasoning-focused tasks

• Base44 for building internal tools and applications without traditional development timelines

  
  

What matters most isn’t which tool is “best,” but whether it’s aligned with the business’s actual needs.

Common Mistakes Businesses Make

The biggest mistake? Starting with tools instead of strategy.

Other common issues include:

• Expecting AI to “just work” without training

• Ignoring data quality

• Rolling out AI without leadership buy-in

• Treating AI as a one-time setup instead of an evolving system

  
  

AI rewards clarity and planning — not shortcuts.

What South Carolina Leaders Should Do Next

Leaders don’t need to become AI experts. They need to ask better questions:

• Where do we lose the most time?

• What processes repeat daily?

• Where are errors most costly?

  
  

From there, AI becomes a support system. Not a risk.

AI adoption in South Carolina isn’t about hype it’s about progress. Businesses that approach AI thoughtfully are already seeing benefits, while those waiting for “perfect clarity” risk falling behind.

Abbott Media will continue tracking how artificial intelligence is shaping South Carolina’s business landscape clearly, practically, and without the noise.

Meet the Author

Andrea Abbott is the Founder of Abbott Media, a South Carolina-based technology firm helping organizations adopt artificial intelligence thoughtfully and responsibly. She works with leaders navigating real-world AI decisions — not trends — with a focus on clarity, trust, and long-term impact.