In the 1990s, the “computer literate” newsagent had an advantage. They embraced POS systems while others stayed with paper ledgers. In 2026, we are at the exact same crossroads with AI Literacy.
The gap with AI is between those who use it for play or curiosity and those who use it as a core business competency.
We use it every day in my businesses.
The world has moved from search to promoting / asking questions.
For decades, we “Googled” by typing keywords. In 2026, we “Prompt” by giving instructions. This is a fundamental shift in how a business owner interacts with information.
- Old Searching for “how to increase gift sales” and reading ten generic articles.
- AI: Prompting your AI agent with your specific POS data by loading your sales history and current stock on hand data: “Analyse my sales and stock and advise what I need to cut and why.”
Why AI is the new computer literacy
If you can’t “speak AI,” you are effectively locked out of the most powerful productivity tools ever created.
Make sure everyone in your business knows how, when and why to use it. Set ground rules. Train people. Be clear in the outcomes you are chasing. This focus has to start with smart prompts. If you are not sure where to start, start – doing is the best way to learn here.
- Clean your data: AI is only as good as the information you give it. Accurate POS data is the “fuel” for your AI’s literacy. Like stock on hand. if it is inaccurate, AI results will be worth less. Let’s be blunt here: if your stock on hand data is shit, the AI results for and about your business will be shit.
- Stop Googling, start instructing: Treat AI like a highly capable, slightly literal intern. Give it context, a persona, and a clear goal. If you’re not happy with a response, say so, and be clearer about what you seek.
- Empower your team: AI literacy shouldn’t stay in the back office. Train your floor staff to use AI tools for customer enquiries and gift recommendations.
The Bottom Line
In 1995, you didn’t need to be a programmer to use a computer, but you did need to know how to turn it on and navigate a menu. In 2026, you don’t need to be a data scientist, but you must be a master of the prompt.
The newsagents, and all retailers, who lean into AI literacy today will be the ones running the most efficient, high-margin businesses tomorrow. The rest will be left wondering how the world moved so fast.
This is not a game.