AI Terms Every Tradie Should Know (Without the Tech Headache)
Confused by all the AI chatter? Don’t stress, here’s your plain-English guide to the new lingo changing how tradies win jobs online.
What’s All the Fuss About AI?
You’ve probably heard about AI doing everything from writing essays to answering customer calls. But what does that mean for your business?
AI (short for artificial intelligence) is simply when computers start doing “smart” tasks humans normally do — like spotting patterns, writing quotes, or chatting with customers.
Used right, it can save you hours, help you follow up leads automatically, and even get your business found faster online.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI is when computers perform intelligent jobs that used to need a person. It’s changing how we live, work, and run our businesses a bit like the next Industrial Revolution.
💡 Real-world example:
AI can send automated replies to website enquiries, book jobs straight into your calendar, or even screen calls while you’re on the tools.
Machine Learning
This is how AI learns. You feed it information (like your past jobs or quotes), and over time it recognises patterns and makes smarter decisions.
💡 Tradie example:
If you quote a lot of similar jobs, machine learning can help your CRM predict which enquiries are likely to convert.
Large Language Models (LLMs)
These are the brains behind tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini. They’ve read billions of web pages, so they can write, explain, or summarise anything in natural language.
💬 In plain English:
It’s what lets AI write blog posts, quote templates, or customer messages that sound human.
Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)
This is the dream (or fear) that AI could one day think and learn like a human. We’re not there yet. Tools like ChatGPT are still brilliant apprentices — not experts.
⚙️ For now:
Use AI for time-saving tasks, not life-and-death decisions.
Superintelligence
That’s when AI would become smarter than people. Some tech gurus think it’s coming soon, others say decades away.
Don’t lose sleep — AI today still makes basic blunders. (It once told people 9.11 is smaller than 9.9!)
Deep Learning
Deep learning is the turbo-charged version of machine learning. It teaches AI to process images, voices, and sounds like a human brain.
💡 Tradie example:
Deep learning powers voice-to-text tools, photo recognition for site reports, and smart assistants like Siri or Google Home.
Agentic AI
This one’s a game-changer for business owners. Agentic AI can take action by itself — not just answer questions.
💡 Example:
Trade Up Digital uses Agentic AI to automatically follow up leads, send quotes, and reply to missed calls — so you never lose a job to a competitor.
Hallucinations
Sometimes AI gets creative — and wrong. That’s called a hallucination. It might make up facts or quotes that sound real but aren’t.
⚠️ Tip:
Always double-check AI output before sending it to clients. Treat it like a new apprentice — handy, but needs supervision.
Prompts
A prompt is just what you type into an AI tool to get an answer. The clearer your question, the better the result.
Good prompt: “Write a funny, family-friendly best man speech around 1,000 words.”
Bad prompt: “Write a speech.”
Compute Power
AI runs on serious computing muscle. The faster the processor (chip), the quicker and smarter the AI performs. That’s why chip makers like Nvidia are booming.
Deepfakes
These are fake videos, voices or images made by AI that look completely real. Scammers often use them to impersonate people.
⚠️ Stay safe:
If you ever get a weird message that sounds like your mate but feels off — check it’s real. Deepfakes are getting harder to spot.
The Bottom Line
AI isn’t replacing tradies — it’s helping them.
From smarter SEO and call tracking to automated CRMs that do the follow-up for you, AI can save you time and win more jobs.
👉 Want to see how AI can work for your trade business?
Chat with Trade Up Digital about setting up automation, SEO, and smart lead systems that keep the phone ringing.
Ready to Get Found?
At Trade Up Digital, we help tradies like you show up on Google, get found in AI search, and turn clicks into real jobs.
👉 Ready to start booking bigger jobs?
What is a CRM and why do I need one for my trade business?
A CRM (Customer Relationship Management system) keeps track of every lead, job and client conversation in one place. Instead of juggling phone notes and texts, it helps you follow up quotes, send reminders and stay organised — so no job slips through the cracks.
How does a CRM help me win more work?
By automating follow-ups and reminders, a CRM makes sure you respond to every enquiry fast, even after hours. It can send text messages, track calls, send review requests, email documents to be signed and much more.
With a text message sent after a missed call helps you the more jobs you’ll win.
Can Trade Up Digital set up and manage a CRM for me?
Yes. We help tradies set up smart CRMs that link with your website and phone system. They work quietly in the background, saving you time and helping you turn more leads into paying jobs.
What is SEO, and why do I need it for my business
SEO is just an excellent way of helping Google and AI tools understand who you are and what you do.
If you don’t do SEO, it’s like having the best plumbing gear in the ute but no one knows you own it.
SEO makes sure people in your area can actually find you online when they search for “plumber near me” or “bathroom revovations.”
Can SEO actually get me bigger jobs, or just more small ones?
Good SEO doesn’t just bring in “anyone.” Done right, it gets your business in front of people who are searching for exactly what you want. Like high-end outdoor kitchens, retaining walls, or luxury fire pits. That way, you spend less time quoting on small garden bed jobs and more time landing the big projects.
How long does SEO take to work?
SEO isn’t like turning on a tap. It’s more like planting a garden.
At first, you don’t see much, but if you water it and look after it, the results grow stronger every month. Most landscapers start seeing new leads in 2–3 months, with bigger results showing up around the 6–12 month mark.
Bachelor Science – Major: Computer Science. Melbourne University.
Diploma Nutrition. Australian College of Natural Therapies
JILLIAN BRANDON
About the Author
With over three decades of experience in technology, programming, and digital marketing, Jillian Brandon has built a reputation as a leader in the evolution of intelligent online systems. Holding a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Computer Science, her early career included roles with major organisations such as the Australian Stock Exchange, Merrill Lynch, Fujitsu, and Liquid Air in the UK. This global experience established her deep technical expertise and strategic understanding of how digital systems and data shape business performance.
As the founder of Manifest Website Design and its specialist divisions Trade Up Digital and Rank for Care, Jillian now applies her extensive knowledge to the fields of SEO, automation, and AI development. She specialises in creating high-performing digital systems that combine search optimisation and AI-driven automation to deliver measurable growth. Her work positions her at the forefront of Australia’s emerging AI business landscape, helping companies leverage technology to gain a competitive advantage.