Do you remember when we used to say, “surfing the web”? Or when it was novel to announce that you were “going online”? It feels almost ancient now, like dial-up tones or renting movies on VHS. The internet isn’t a thing we acknowledge anymore—it just is.
And that’s exactly what will happen with AI.
Back in the dot-com era, the internet was a wild concept for businesses. Advertising was just beginning to shift from print and TV to banner ads and email blasts. Pop-ups were cutting edge and sometimes considered endlessly annoying. Communication evolved from formal letters and phone calls to instant messages and early email chains with subject lines like “FW: FW: FW: hilarious :D!” Even the language we used was affected; “going online,” “e-business,” and “cyberspace” were all part of the lexicon. But over time, what started as a novelty became second nature. Brands stopped asking if they needed a website and started competing on how fast, smart, and seamless their digital experience could be. The internet transformed from a tool into the infrastructure of modern business—powering connection, commerce, and communication.
And that shift we saw is exactly what will happen with AI.
Artificial intelligence is having its moment right now. It’s the buzzword in boardrooms, the headliner in tech conferences, and the “game-changer” in every industry. But eventually, AI won’t be something we talk about. It will simply be the way we do business. The same way we don’t marvel at electricity every time we flip a switch, AI will seamlessly power our businesses, our experiences, and our daily lives without a second thought.
AI Today: The Cool Add-On
At this stage, AI is a powerful tool, but we still see it as a novelty in many ways. A hairdryer that “integrates AI” sounds innovative, but do you need it? Maybe not. But what if it could recognize your hair type, adjust heat levels automatically, and stop when your hair is perfectly dry? Suddenly, it’s not just an add-on—it’s essential.
This is where we are now. Businesses are asking, “How can AI enhance what we already have?” Whether it’s smarter automation, predictive analytics, or AI-powered customer interaction, we’re in the enhancement phase. We’re making existing systems more efficient, more intuitive, and more capable.
AI is starting to power industries in ways we never imagined. In the skincare world, it can now analyze a client’s skin in real-time and recommend treatments. In fitness, AI-driven apps adjust workouts based on biometric feedback. In wellness, AI is creating hyper-personalized experiences, from stress-level tracking to guided meditation tailored to your needs. These applications aren’t futuristic; they’re happening now.
AI Tomorrow: The Invisible Power
Fast forward a few years, and AI won’t just be an enhancement—it will be the foundation. We don’t ask if our apps or software are “internet powered.” They just are. The same will be true for AI.
At Vagaro, we see AI moving in this direction. It’s already automating scheduling, personalizing client interactions, and creating marketing emails for businesses. We’re offering Vagaro AI to enhance service descriptions, business biographies, and email campaigns, so business owners don’t have to spend time on something that feels time consuming for them. But soon, AI will become even more integrated—predicting demand, streamlining operations, and making real-time decisions that drive business success without requiring constant human intervention.
For beauty, wellness, and fitness businesses, this means a world where AI doesn’t help—it handles. Imagine a salon where AI optimizes your bookings based on client preferences and stylist availability, or a fitness studio where AI personalizes each client’s workout schedule based on real-time progress.
It won’t stop there. AI will soon anticipate what your business needs before you even recognize it. It will predict future inventory shortages and auto-replenish supplies, much like Vagaro Purchase Orders, but in advance. It will analyze market trends and alert you to emerging service demands. It will even refine pricing dynamically, ensuring optimal profitability based on real-time consumer behavior. AI won’t be an assistant. It will be an operational partner.
The Future is Already Here—Are You Ready?
The transition from “AI as a tool” to “AI as the backbone of business” is happening faster than we realize. The businesses that embrace this shift early will be the ones leading their industries tomorrow.
At Vagaro, we’re not just looking at how AI can improve what we have...we’re thinking about how it can power everything in the future. Just like the internet, AI will soon be so deeply embedded into our lives that we won’t even think about it. It will just be the way things work.
So, does anyone call it the “internet” anymore? Nope. And soon, we won’t be calling it “AI” either. It will just be.
The only question is—are you ready for it?
