# Charleston AI Playbook
> Real, sourced examples of Charleston and Lowcountry (South Carolina) businesses using AI, with the tool, the result, a copyable prompt, and a source link. Plus a calendar of local AI events.

Updated: 2026-10-16. Publisher: Charleston AI Playbook (https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/about). Contact: inbox@charlestonaiplaybook.com. Edited in Charleston, SC by Collin Lemmon. Text below is taken from the site. Results a vendor published are labeled that way in the entry. The directory does not feature or rank Mass AI.

Short index. Full text: https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/llms-full.txt

## Pages
- [Directory](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/): all sourced examples
- [Full text for assistants](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/llms-full.txt): every example, prompt, event, note, and FAQ
- [Events](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/events): upcoming Charleston-area AI events, with start times
- [AI events this month](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/ai-events-this-month): events on the calendar that overlap the current month
- [Charleston AI companies](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/charleston-ai-companies): directory entries, with the tool and result from each entry. Not every AI company in Charleston
- [AI consultants in Charleston](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/ai-consultants-charleston): the Playbook does not list or rank AI consultants
- [Topics](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/topics): guides, industries, events, companies and notes
- [FAQ](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/faq): how the directory works
- [Ask the Playbook](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/ask): search examples, events, and FAQ answers
- [News](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/news): practical AI news for small businesses, with sources and how to use it
- [Notes](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/blog): short posts
- [RSS](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/rss.xml): the notes feed
- [About](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/about): editorial rules
- [Contact](mailto:inbox@charlestonaiplaybook.com): questions, corrections, and advertising
- [Newsletter](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/newsletter): The AI news that matters for your small business, explained simply, with how to use it. Free weekly, from Charleston.
- [Submit](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/submit): send a sourced example or event
- [Advertise](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/advertise): paid listings, always marked as paid
- [Sponsor](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/sponsor): older sponsor page
- [Grok Bot templates](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/grok-bot-templates): ready-made setups, none live yet
- [Prompts and templates](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts): copy-paste prompts and templates for small businesses. Time saved is an estimate
- [AI voices on X](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/ai-on-x): 23 accounts by type

## AI for your industry in Charleston
- [AI for Restaurants in Charleston](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/ai-for/restaurants): Charleston restaurants use AI first on the phone. Katsubō in Park Circle has an AI attendant for takeout and reservation calls, and Charleston Hospitality Group uses Claude across marketing, guest messages and training. Start with the calls and messages your staff answers fifty times a week.
- [AI for Real Estate in Charleston](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/ai-for/real-estate): Charleston real estate teams use AI to keep new leads warm until they’re ready to talk, and to cut admin. Jeff Cook Real Estate runs a dedicated team that takes over AI-nurtured leads, and the Kaufman Group in Summerville is building its own tools to take repetitive work off agents.
- [AI for Healthcare in Charleston](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/ai-for/healthcare): The biggest healthcare AI example in Charleston is MUSC Health. Its AI agent, Emily, handles appointments, billing questions and pharmacy refills by voice and chat, and SoundHound reports 2.2 million interactions a year. Smaller practices can start with the same idea: answer the routine questions automatically and send the rest to staff.
- [AI for Hotels & Vacation Rentals in Charleston](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/ai-for/hospitality): Charleston hotels and rental managers use AI mainly to set prices. The Dewberry uses IDeaS to price rooms without a dedicated revenue manager, and Dunes Properties used PriceLabs for dynamic pricing on vacation rentals. If you have even one rental, compare your rates to five nearby listings before paying for a tool.
- [AI for Home Services in Charleston](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/ai-for/home-services): Charleston home service businesses use AI to stop losing work in follow-up. LimRic Plumbing, Heating & Air automated its estimate follow-up, and Mount Pleasant’s Renoverse AI turns builders’ voice notes into clean records and follow-up emails. Charleston Telecom in Summerville uses an AI agent to triage after-hours calls.
- [AI for Law Firms in Charleston](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/ai-for/legal): Charleston is home to one of the best-known legal AI tools for client communication. Case Status, based on Daniel Island and North Charleston, drafts replies to client messages and translates them. Its announcement says a staff member reviews each reply before it is sent. For a small firm, the easy win is plain-English client updates.
- [AI for Retail in Charleston](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/ai-for/retail): Charleston retailers use AI to let customers create something themselves. Dream It Print It in the Citadel Mall lets shoppers design logos and art with AI and prints them the same day, and the owner says most of what he prints is AI art. Product descriptions and social posts are easy first steps for any shop.

## News
- [ChatGPT’s GPT-6 can answer with a calculator, a form, or a chart](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/news/chatgpt-gpt-6-answers-with-a-calculator-or-a-chart) (news 2026-10-07, published 2026-10-16): OpenAI’s October 7, 2026 GPT-6 update lets ChatGPT answer with buttons, forms, and charts. Here is how a small business can try it.
- [Two-thirds of U.S. small businesses say they use AI](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/news/two-thirds-of-small-businesses-say-they-use-ai) (news 2026-10-02, published 2026-10-16): The U.S. Chamber’s October 2, 2026 report says 66% of small businesses use AI, up from 58% in 2025. Here is what the survey counted.
- [Google’s Gemini agent is in early access for small businesses](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/news/google-gemini-agent-early-access-for-small-business) (news 2026-10-08, published 2026-10-16): Google Cloud’s October 8, 2026 Gemini agent is in early access for small businesses. Here is what it does, and what to do before you have it.

## Notes
- [How South Carolina businesses are using AI (September 2026 state post)](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/blog/how-south-carolina-businesses-are-using-ai-september-2026) (2026-10-16): The September 14, 2026 state labor post on AI use in South Carolina, and the Charleston examples next to those numbers.
- [How a Charleston law office can start with AI this week](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/blog/how-a-charleston-law-office-can-start-with-ai-this-week) (2026-10-16): Two local examples, one rule about what you paste, and a task you can finish before lunch.
- [The first job Charleston businesses give AI: answering the phone](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/blog/charleston-businesses-letting-ai-answer-the-phone) (2026-10-15): A ramen shop, a hospital and a town all started in the same place. Here’s why, and how to try it yourself.
- [How Charleston hotels and rentals use AI to set the price](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/blog/charleston-rentals-and-hotels-ai-pricing) (2026-10-15): Two local examples, one simple idea: let the data pick the nightly rate.
- [Where to learn AI in Charleston this fall](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/blog/where-to-learn-ai-in-charleston-this-fall) (2026-10-16): Workshops and meetups from downtown to Moncks Corner, including free ones. The events page has the full list.
- [What Charleston’s towns learned putting AI on the front desk](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/blog/charleston-towns-ai-chat-assistants) (2026-10-15): Mount Pleasant and Dorchester County let AI answer residents. Here’s what that means for your business’s customer questions.
- [Seven AI products built in Charleston](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/blog/charleston-made-ai-companies) (2026-10-15): From Daniel Island to the College of Charleston, local companies are building AI that businesses everywhere use.
- [How Charleston contractors use AI to stop losing jobs in follow-up](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/blog/charleston-contractors-ai-follow-up) (2026-10-15): A plumbing company, a builders’ app and a telecom firm show where AI saves service businesses the most time.

## Prompts and templates
Time saved on each prompt page is an estimate, not a measured result. Copy a prompt, fill the brackets, and edit the draft. Marketing, reviews, email, hiring, books, and Google Business Profile.
- [Prompts and templates](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts)
- [Marketing & social](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/category/marketing-social): Posts, captions, short ads, and a two-week calendar. Copy the prompt, fill the brackets, and edit before you publish.
- [Customer service & reviews](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/category/customer-service): Front-desk answers, review replies, translations, and a clear list of calls that still need a person.
- [Sales & email](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/category/sales-email): Short emails for a quote, a proposal, a past customer, and the note you send after you actually meet.
- [Operations & SOPs](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/category/operations): Checklists, meeting notes, inbox drafts, and a one-page rule for what your team may paste into a chat.
- [Hiring & HR](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/category/hiring-hr): A job post, interview questions, an application receipt, a first-week list, and a plain benefits FAQ.
- [Finance & bookkeeping](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/category/finance): An invoice reminder, an expense sort, a weekly cash note, and a list of files for your bookkeeper.
- [Restaurants & hospitality](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/category/restaurants): Phone scripts, prep lists, specials, holiday hours, guest messages, and the host’s reservation rules.
- [Real estate](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/category/real-estate): Listing steps, buyer texts, showing notes, and a buyer FAQ you still have to verify line by line.
- [Home services & trades](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/category/home-services): Estimates, follow-up messages, job-site notes, after-hours rules, and a text that you are on the way.
- [Retail](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/category/retail): Product descriptions, a return reply, a shelf card, and the note you leave for the next shift.
- [Professional services](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/category/professional-services): Plain-language client updates, a scope of work, intake questions, and a recap after a first call.
- [Local SEO & Google Business Profile](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/category/local-seo): A profile description, a few Google posts, Q&A, a service list, and a page for towns you serve.
- [Catering and event replies](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/guest-inquiry-replies): Draft replies to catering and event inquiries, and flag what a manager still has to decide.
- [Restaurant phone script](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/restaurant-phone-script): A phone script for hours, takeout, reservations, and jobs, plus when to hand the call to a person.
- [Restaurant review themes](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/restaurant-review-themes): Turn a stack of reviews into praised items, complaints, and one fix to try this week.
- [Nightly rate notes](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/nightly-rate-reasoning): Ask for nightly rate ideas from competitor rates and your own occupancy notes, with the reason attached.
- [Rental listing comparison](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/rental-listing-comps): Compare your listing with five nearby comps and list gaps in price notes and amenities.
- [Front desk questions and handoffs](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/front-desk-common-questions): List the questions the front desk hears and write a short answer plus a handoff rule.
- [FAQ page into chatbot pairs](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/faq-to-chatbot): Turn the FAQ you already published into short pairs, plus questions that stay with staff.
- [Translate five service answers](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/translate-service-answers): Draft Spanish and Vietnamese versions of five answers you already give in English.
- [After-hours call triage](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/after-hours-triage): Sort after-hours calls into emergencies that wake someone up and messages that wait until morning.
- [Five logo concepts in words](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/logo-concepts): Describe five logo ideas clearly enough to paste into an image tool you already have.
- [Staffing notes from hourly numbers](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/hourly-staffing-notes): Turn hourly foot-traffic or sales numbers you already have into a plain staffing note.
- [Repetitive checks to look at](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/inspection-tasks): List repetitive inspection tasks in your shop and separate what a person still has to judge.
- [Sort the ten biggest tasks in your week](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/weekly-task-sort): List the tasks that eat your week and mark what a draft can touch and what it should not.
- [One-page AI use policy](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/team-ai-policy): Draft a one-page rule for which tools are allowed, what stays out, and which decisions need a person.
- [Job-site notes into a log and emails](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/jobsite-notes): Turn job-site voice notes into a log by client, a to-do list, and a short follow-up email.
- [Four-message estimate follow-up](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/estimate-follow-up-sequence): A text, an email, another text, and a voicemail for an estimate that has gone quiet.
- [Plain-English client update](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/plain-client-update): Rewrite a case update in plain English, under 100 words, with the next step and the date.
- [Listing admin steps](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/listing-to-live-steps): List every admin step from signed listing agreement to live listing, and mark what a draft could help.
- [Three texts for a quiet buyer lead](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/buyer-nurture-texts): Three short texts for a buyer lead who asked about homes and then went quiet.
- [Short listing ad blurbs](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/listing-ad-blurbs): Turn five listings into blurbs under 25 words with neighborhood, price, and one feature.
- [First-gift thank-you note](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/first-gift-thanks): Draft a thank-you to a first-time donor that says what the gift pays for.
- [Benefits FAQ for a new hire](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/new-hire-benefits-faq): Turn a benefits summary into a one-page FAQ a new hire can actually read.
- [Ideal customer and where they talk](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/ideal-customer): Describe your ideal customer in five bullets, then list places they already show up.
- [Client meeting prep sheet](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/client-prep-sheet): Turn account notes into a one-page prep sheet: goals, changes, and three questions.
- [Steps from the door to the snack](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/cafe-order-steps): List every step a visitor takes to buy a coffee and a snack, and mark what a person still does.
- [Meeting notes into decisions](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/meeting-notes-actions): Summarize a meeting into decisions, owners, and dates, and leave private names out.
- [Hotel or restaurant assistant script](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/lodging-assistant-script): A short assistant script for hours, reservations, parking, and bookings, with a handoff to a person.
- [Case notes into a timeline](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/case-notes-timeline): Turn case notes into a timeline, missing records, and three questions, using only the notes.
- [Reservation rules for a phone agent](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/reservation-policy): Write the host’s reservation rules as a policy a phone agent could follow.
- [One-page sales and labor briefing](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/daily-sales-briefing): Turn yesterday’s sales and labor numbers into a one-page briefing with risks and decisions.
- [Closing-file chase emails](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/closing-file-chase): For each open closing file, list missing documents and draft a polite chase email.
- [Buyer FAQ for one address](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/address-buyer-faq): Draft a buyer FAQ for one address, and list the sources you still have to verify.
- [Twenty questions the phone already gets](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/twenty-phone-questions): Write short answers for the questions the phone gets, and list calls that stay with a person.
- [Front desk FAQ from the questions you hear](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/five-minute-customer-faq): Write a short answer for each front-desk question and mark which ones go to a person.
- [Reply with two real appointment times](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/two-appointment-reply): Reply to a customer in a warm, short tone and offer two appointment times you can actually keep.
- [Plain-English version of a letter you sent](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/plain-english-letter): Rewrite a letter you already sent into plain English under 100 words, with the next step and the date.
- [Answers for the phone questions you wrote down](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/phone-answers-from-your-list): Paste the questions you already listed and get short answers plus calls that go to a person.
- [Restaurant front desk answers](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/restaurant-front-desk): Answers for the questions a restaurant phone gets all week: hours, takeout, reservations, parking.
- [Rental host messages and check-in notes](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/rental-host-messages): Draft guest messages and check-in notes, and flag anything a person should handle.
- [What a month of reviews loved and did not](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/monthly-review-loves): Summarize a month of Google reviews into three things people love and three they do not.
- [Follow-ups that slip on a job site](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/contractor-follow-up-pack): Draft the follow-up texts and emails that do not get written while you are on a job.
- [Local event roundup](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/local-event-roundup): Turn a list of this week’s events into a short roundup for a newsletter or a staff meeting.
- [Inbox triage drafts](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/inbox-triage-drafts): Sort a stack of emails into drafts, and leave anything that sends or spends for you to approve.
- [Two-week social calendar](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/two-week-social-calendar): A 14-day posting plan from facts about your business, with the words written out.
- [One-offer email](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/one-offer-email): A short email about one real offer, with a subject line and no extra claims.
- [Captions from notes on a photo](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/photo-captions): Write captions from what is actually in the photo and the notes you took.
- [Review reply](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/review-reply): A public reply to one review that thanks them and does not invent an offer.
- [Complaint note for the person who will handle it](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/complaint-handoff): Turn a complaint into a short internal note so a person can respond without rereading the thread.
- [Text after a missed call](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/missed-call-text): A short text after you miss a call, with two ways to reach you and no invented answer.
- [Quote follow-up email](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/quote-follow-up): One follow-up email after a quote, with the date it was sent and no new price.
- [Note to a past customer](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/past-customer-note): A short note to someone who already bought from you, with one true reason to write.
- [Cover note for a proposal](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/proposal-cover-note): A short cover note that says what the proposal is, what it costs, and what happens next.
- [Follow-up after a real meeting](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/introduction-after-meeting): A follow-up email after you actually met someone, with the next step you agreed.
- [Opening checklist](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/opening-sop): Turn rough opening notes into a checklist a new person can follow.
- [Reorder note to a vendor](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/vendor-reorder): A reorder email that lists the items, the quantities, and the date you need them.
- [Job post](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/job-post): A plain job post with the work, the pay you are willing to publish, and how to apply.
- [Interview questions from the actual work](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/interview-questions): Interview questions tied to the tasks in the job, plus what a good answer has to cover.
- [We got your application](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/application-received): A short note that you received an application, with the real next step and no false timeline.
- [First-week checklist for a new hire](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/first-week-checklist): A first-week checklist from the tasks you actually need them to learn.
- [Invoice reminder](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/invoice-reminder): A polite reminder for an unpaid invoice, with the number, the amount, and the due date.
- [Sort a small pile of expenses](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/expense-sort): Group a small list of expenses into categories you define, and flag anything unclear.
- [Weekly cash note](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/weekly-cash-note): A one-page note on money in, money out, and what you have to decide this week.
- [What to hand the bookkeeper](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/bookkeeper-packet): A checklist of what to send your bookkeeper this month, from the accounts you actually have.
- [Prep list from tonight’s covers](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/prep-list): A prep list for tomorrow from tonight’s covers and the items you actually prep.
- [Tonight’s specials, in your words](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/specials-post): A short specials post from the dishes you are actually serving and the prices you set.
- [Holiday hours in three places](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/holiday-hours): The same holiday hours, written for the door, the website, and a Google post.
- [Listing description from the fact sheet](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/listing-description): A listing description that uses the fact sheet and does not add a feature.
- [Note after a showing](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/showing-follow-up): A short note after a showing that asks one question and does not invent interest.
- [Open house follow-up](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/open-house-note): A follow-up to open-house sign-ins that offers one next step and no pressure.
- [Service estimate email](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/service-estimate): An estimate email with the work, the price, and what is not included.
- [Maintenance reminder](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/maintenance-reminder): A reminder for maintenance you actually offer, with a way to book and no scare tactic.
- [On-my-way text](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/on-my-way-text): A text that you are on the way, with a window you can keep.
- [Product descriptions for what you sell](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/product-descriptions): Short descriptions for products you already sell, from facts you supply.
- [Reply to a return request](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/return-reply): A reply to a return request that follows the policy you typed and does not invent a new one.
- [End-of-shift note](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/shift-close-note): A close note for the next shift: what sold, what broke, and what to reorder.
- [Shelf card for one product](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/shelf-talker): A short shelf card with the product name, one true fact, and the price.
- [Recap after a discovery call](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/discovery-recap): A recap email after a first call: what they need, what you will do next, and what you will not do.
- [Scope of work](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/scope-of-work): A one-page scope: what is included, what is not, the price, and how you accept a change.
- [Intake questions for a new client](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/intake-questions): The questions you ask before you take a new client, written so they can answer them.
- [Google Business Profile description](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/gbp-description): A description for your Google Business Profile from facts a customer can check.
- [Four Google Business Profile posts](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/gbp-week-posts): Four Google posts for the month from updates that are actually true.
- [Questions and answers for your Google profile](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/gbp-questions): Q&A pairs for the questions customers already ask, ready to paste into your Google profile.
- [Service list for your Google profile](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/gbp-services): A clean list of services and prices you are willing to publish on your Google profile.
- [Service-area page outline](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/prompts/service-area-page): An outline for a page about the areas you actually serve, without a fake town list.

## Industries
- [Restaurants & Hospitality](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/industries/restaurants-and-hospitality): Charleston restaurants mostly use AI on the phone and in the back office: answering calls about hours, takeout and reservations, drafting guest replies, and making sense of reviews.
- [Hotels & Short-Term Rentals](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/industries/hotels-and-short-term-rentals): Charleston hotels and rental managers use AI mainly for pricing. Revenue tools like IDeaS and PriceLabs set nightly rates from demand data instead of guesswork.
- [Healthcare](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/industries/healthcare): The biggest healthcare example in Charleston is MUSC, where an AI agent handles millions of routine patient calls and chats each year so staff can take the hard ones.
- [Local Government](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/industries/local-government): Lowcountry towns and counties use AI chat assistants, several built by Charleston-based Citibot, to answer residents around the clock in dozens of languages.
- [Home & Business Services](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/industries/home-and-business-services): Charleston service businesses use AI to answer after-hours calls, follow up on estimates automatically and turn job-site voice notes into clean records.
- [Retail](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/industries/retail): Charleston retailers use generative AI to let customers design something themselves, then produce it the same day.
- [Tech & Manufacturing](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/industries/tech-and-manufacturing): Charleston tech companies build AI into the products local and national customers use, from Blackbaud and Benefitfocus on Daniel Island to startups like Atapic and Zom AI.
- [Education](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/industries/education): Charleston County schools are piloting AI for teachers under a board-approved policy that keeps people in charge of high-stakes decisions.
- [Legal](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/industries/legal): Charleston’s best-known legal AI comes from Case Status on Daniel Island: AI that drafts client updates and replies for staff to review before anything is sent.
- [Real Estate](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/industries/real-estate): Charleston real estate teams use AI to nurture new leads until they’re ready to talk, and to take admin and listing setup off agents.
- [Marketing & Media](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/industries/marketing-and-media): Local media uses AI to produce ads at volume, like The Post and Courier’s automated real estate listing ads.

## Examples
- [Charleston Hospitality Group (Toast! All Day, Eli's Table, John King Grill)](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/chg-claude) (Charleston/Summerville/Mt Pleasant): Spent 1+ year using Claude in marketing, guest communications, operations, training and business intelligence; joined the Claude Partner Network. Tool: Anthropic Claude. Result: First Lowcountry hospitality company in the Claude Partner Network (June 2026). Source: https://scbiz.com/charleston-hospitality-group-anthropic-claude-network/
- [Katsubō Chicken & Ramen](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/katsubo-kat) (North Charleston (Park Circle)): An AI phone attendant answers takeout, reservation, hours and hiring questions. Tool: AI phone attendant ("Kat"), later spun out as Noodl. Result: Staff can focus on guests in the room; owners now sell the tech to other restaurants as Noodl. Source: https://www.postandcourier.com/food/restaurants-north-charleston-artificial-intelligence/article_1ce37b4c-fc01-46b2-9c58-cb901f0048ce.html
- [TasteSignal.ai (College of Charleston professor)](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/tastesignal) (Charleston): Ranks 240 Charleston restaurants in 16 categories, using critic reviews, crowd sentiment, trends, consistency and local relevance. Tool: Proprietary AI ranking algorithm. Result: Updated monthly; used as a live case study in a 40-student class. Source: https://www.postandcourier.com/food/taste-signal-ai-best-charleston-sc-restaurants/article_06bbe84c-6694-4842-ad6c-e70fa7ec87dd.html
- [The Dewberry Charleston](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/dewberry-ideas) (Charleston): An ML system handles pricing, rate availability and overbooking, with no dedicated revenue manager. Tool: IDeaS G3 RMS (machine-learning revenue management). Result: Year-over-year gains in ADR, RevPAR and occupancy (vendor success story). Source: https://ideas.com/success-story/the-dewberry-charleston/
- [Dunes Properties of Charleston](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/dunes-pricelabs) (Charleston beaches): Dynamic pricing for vacation rentals. Tool: PriceLabs dynamic pricing. Result: Vendor-reported: ADR up about 50%; one property went from $18k to $20k. Source: https://hello.pricelabs.co/blog/how-a-property-manager-uses-pricelabs/
- [MUSC Health](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/musc-emily) (Charleston): Handles appointments, billing, parking questions and (2026) pharmacy refills by voice and chat. Tool: SoundHound AI agent "Emily", integrated with Epic. Result: 2.2M interactions/yr; 4.3/5 NPS; billing abandonment down up to 40% (vendor story). Source: https://www.soundhound.com/resource/from-appointments-to-refills-musc-healths-expansion-of-ai-enabled-patient-access-capabilities-with-emily
- [Town of Mount Pleasant](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/mtp-sawyer) (Mount Pleasant): 24/7 resident help by web, text and phone: service requests, trash schedules, potholes. Tool: "Sawyer" virtual assistant by Citibot (Charleston company). Result: 70+ languages on web and text. Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/meet-sawyer-mount-pleasant-ai-024138859.html
- [Dorchester County Water & Sewer](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/dorchester-mani) (Dorchester County): 24/7 multilingual web chat for water and sewer customers. Tool: "Mani" generative AI chat by Citibot. Result: Supports 75 languages. Source: https://www.postandcourier.com/journal-scene/community-news/county-launches-multilingual-chat-assistant/article_7fe59c41-15c8-4a66-addf-9743116dde39.html
- [Charleston Telecom Solutions](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/chs-telecom-allsio) (Summerville): After-hours AI call triage in place of a live answering service; SMS agents and voice campaigns. Tool: Allsio (in-house AI voice + SMS, built on OpenAI and Deepgram). Result: Launched March 2026; also sells it to their own business customers. Source: https://www.datagate-i.com/case-studies/charleston-telecom-solutions-2026/
- [Dream It Print It (Citadel Mall)](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/dream-it-print-it) (West Ashley): Customers design logos and art with AI and get them printed the same day, with no minimums. Tool: AI image generation + UV printing. Result: Owner says about 90% of what he prints is AI art. Source: https://scbiz.com/graphic-artist-embraces-disruptive-ai-technology-with-charleston-shop/
- [Omnisight](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/omnisight) (Daniel Island): Detects and classifies vehicles to manage intersections and parking; made in Charleston. Tool: Edge AI radar + video traffic sensor (NVIDIA GPU). Result: Analyzes traffic 20 times per second; online dashboard. Source: https://scbiz.com/traffic-is-a-pain-this-new-charleston-company-is-using-ai-to-fix-it/
- [Integer Technologies](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/integer-tech) (Charleston): AI for unmanned surface vessels, energy management and advanced manufacturing. Tool: Custom AI products. Result: $63M economic impact in 2024 (company figure). Source: https://www.charlestonbusinessmagazine.com/stories/the-artificial-intelligence-revolution,2634
- [Charleston County (with Palmetto Goodwill)](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/charleston-county-goodbiz) (Charleston County): The county is connecting small businesses with an AI platform meant to take daily workload off small teams. Tool: GoodBiz.AI. Result: Palmetto Goodwill and partners are covering the cost for up to 250 local businesses for two years. Source: https://www.live5news.com/2026/09/14/charleston-county-rolls-out-ai-tool-small-businesses/
- [Charleston County School District](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/ccsd-magicschool) (Charleston County): A one-year pilot lets teachers use MagicSchool to build lessons and assessments, under a board-approved AI policy. Tool: MagicSchool.ai (teacher-only pilot). Result: Policy adopted January 2026; AI can't be the sole basis for high-stakes decisions. Source: https://www.postandcourier.com/education-lab/charleston-county-schools-ai-classrooms/article_4e83cd49-5fac-4577-9f52-951dd6e47cea.html
- [Renoverse AI](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/renoverse-ai) (Mount Pleasant): Builders and designers dictate notes; the assistant logs them, turns photos of handwritten memos into notes, and drafts follow-up emails. Tool: RenoverseAI app (voice-to-notes assistant). Result: Founder says the goal is cutting the 14 hours a week small builders lose to admin; received a $25,000 SCRA startup grant. Source: https://www.postandcourier.com/moultrie-news/news/new-app-streamlining-comm-in-constr-design-space/article_6304178f-7754-4798-8582-9164a8933f2f.html
- [LimRic Plumbing, Heating & Air](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/limric-hatch) (Charleston): Estimate follow-up and after-job check-ins run automatically by text, email and voicemail until the customer replies. Tool: Hatch (automated follow-up connected to ServiceTitan). Result: Vendor-reported: 30% more deals closed in 50% less follow-up time. Source: https://www.usehatchapp.com/case-studies/limric
- [Case Status](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/case-status-casey) (Daniel Island / North Charleston): Drafts suggested replies to client messages for law firm staff to review, and translates messages. Tool: Casey AI (built into the Case Status client app). Result: The announcement says a staff member reviews each reply before it is sent. Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/case-status-introduces-powerful-new-casey-ai-302106136.html
- [The Kaufman Group (Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate)](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/kaufman-group) (Summerville): The team is building its own AI tools to take admin, listing setup and workflow busywork off agents. Tool: In-house AI tools. Result: Team says the goal is eliminating 80–90% of repetitive tasks. Source: https://bhgpalmetto.com/2026/01/14/kuffman-group
- [Jeff Cook Real Estate LPT Realty](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/jeff-cook-ylopo) (Charleston): AI handles first outreach and nurturing of new leads; a 24-agent AI team takes over once a lead shows real intent. Tool: YLOPO AI lead nurturing. Result: Team reports 291 deals closed through paid-search channels in the last year. Source: https://www.jeffcookrealestate.com/blog/real-estate-team-of-the-future/
- [The Post and Courier (with Wehaa)](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/post-courier-wehaa) (Charleston): Automatically composes, labels and groups hundreds of real estate listing ads for print, and maps listings online. Tool: Wehaa AI-assisted ad production. Result: Ads that took hours of manual design are produced automatically (vendor-reported). Source: https://www.newspapers.org/stories/wehaa,4166131
- [Blackbaud](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/blackbaud-ai) (Daniel Island): Rolled out 70+ AI features for nonprofits, including AI-written reports and agents for fundraising work. Tool: AI built into its nonprofit software. Result: 70+ embedded AI capabilities announced (company-reported). Source: https://www.blackbaud.com/newsroom/article/blackbaud-unveils-seismic-shifts-in-ai-innovation-rolling-out-70-embedded-sector-specific-capabilities-and-unlocking-new-possibility-for-social-impact
- [Benefitfocus](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/benefitfocus-saige) (Daniel Island): AI that gives employees personalized benefits recommendations and powers a 24/7 benefits chatbot. Tool: BenefitSAIGE. Result: Company-reported launch. Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/benefitfocus-advances-platform-leadership-with-artificial-intelligence-productivity-enhancements-and-new-category-of-products-300818579.html
- [Atapic](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/atapic) (North Charleston): Finds likely prospects for coaches, consultants and service businesses from public signals and builds contact lists with context. Tool: AI lead-generation platform. Result: Received a $25,000 SCRA startup grant. Source: https://scra.org/scra-announces-new-grant-funding-and-member-companies-mar26/
- [Zom AI (College of Charleston student founder)](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/zom-ai) (Charleston): Pulls a financial adviser's client data into one secure view to speed up advice and prep. Tool: AI platform built on Anthropic's Claude. Result: Founder has raised $500,000; several firms are beta-testing (per CofC). Source: https://today.charleston.edu/2026/07/23/dom-carfagno-startup-zom-ai/
- [Roper St. Francis Healthcare (Palmetto Market at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital)](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/roper-palmetto-market) (Charleston): Palmetto Market, the cafe inside Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, is described as an AI-powered store using Amazon Just Walk Out so people can take food, beverages, and everyday essentials with no line and no checkout counter. Tool: Amazon Just Walk Out. Result: Partner announcement: called the first full-service coffee shop with barista service in a U.S. healthcare facility to use this technology, with no checkout line. Source: https://www.morrisonhealthcare.com/news-and-press/roper-st-francis-healthcare-launches-nations-first-full-service-coffee-shop-in-a-healthcare-facility-powered-by-amazons-just-walk-out-technology/
- [College of Charleston](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/cofc-ai-tools) (Charleston): The library lists official AI tools for students, faculty and staff: Copilot chat, premium Gemini, a Research Assistant for plain-language database questions, and Zoom AI Companion for meeting summaries. Tool: Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, library Research Assistant, and Zoom AI Companion. Result: The library says these tools have enterprise data protection, so data is not shared for training, and that access does not mean every course allows them. Source: https://libguides.charleston.edu/artificialintelligence/universityaitools
- [LouLou AI](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/loulou-ai) (Charleston): A hospitality assistant for hotels, resorts, restaurants, spas and private clubs. It trains on each brand's voice, connects to reservation systems, and handles inquiries, bookings and routine guest messages. Tool: 24/7 guest voice and messaging assistant. Result: Received a $25,000 SCRA startup grant. Source: https://scra.org/scra-announces-new-grant-funding-and-member-companies/
- [Thrive Data](https://charlestonaiplaybook.com/use-cases/thrive-data) (Charleston): Turns complex medical and legal documents into organized case intelligence so personal injury attorneys and expert witnesses can analyze records and generate summaries. Tool: AI legal tech platform. Result: Received a $25,000 SCRA startup grant. Source: https://scra.org/scra-announces-new-grant-funding-and-member-companies-jan26/

## Upcoming events
- 2026-10-02 9:00 AM to 2026-11-20: AI & Data in the Holy City (4-part workshop series), 91 Hanover St, Charleston (https://www.charlestondigital.com/events/ai-and-data-in-the-holy-city-workshop-series)
- 2026-10-20 9:00-10:30 AM: Introduction to AI, Charleston Learning Center, 4 Conroy St, Charleston (https://www.charlestondigital.com/events/introduction-to-ai)
- 2026-10-20 3:00-4:00 PM: AI in the Liberal Arts, Addlestone Library, Room 227, 205 Calhoun St, Charleston (https://calendar.charleston.edu/event/intentional-ai-courageous-conversations-series-ai-in-the-liberal-arts)
- 2026-10-21 5:30-7:30 PM: Founders Roundtable feat. Kim Walpole (FiveLoaves.ai), The Work Society Charleston, 1064 Gardner Rd, Suite 207, Charleston (https://chucktownstartups.com/event-6857219)
- 2026-10-23 9:30 AM-5:45 PM: Agentic Cloud Day 2026 (AWS Community Day), HarborWalk Center, 360 Concord St, Charleston (https://acd.gdna.ai/)
- 2026-10-23 Fri 5:30 PM through Sun 6:30 PM to 2026-10-25: HarborHack 2026: Agent in the Loop, Harbor Walk East, 360 Concord St, Charleston (https://chucktownstartups.com/event-6865326)
- 2026-10-28 9:00-10:30 AM: Claude for Professionals, Charleston Learning Center, 4 Conroy St, Charleston (https://www.charlestondigital.com/events/Claude%20for%20Professionals)
- 2026-11-04 9:00-10:30 AM: AI for Beginners, Harbor Entrepreneur Center, 11 Ewall St, Mt Pleasant (https://harborec.org/event/ai-agents-for-entrepreneurs-ai-for-beginners-2/)
- 2026-11-04 5:00-7:30 PM: Strands Agents Hands-On: Build Your First Agent, Harborwalk East 204, 360 Concord St, Charleston (https://www.meetup.com/chs-amazon-web-services/events/316982507/)
- 2026-11-05 Thu 8:30 AM-6:00 PM; Fri 8:30 AM-5:00 PM to 2026-11-06: AI Era 2.0 (law firms), Case Status HQ, 65 Fairchild St, Daniel Island (https://bestera.com/aiera2.o/)
- 2026-11-06 11:00 AM-3:30 PM: AI CAN Do It. SHOULD It?, The Aku Venue Event Center, 02 Corner Square Plaza, Moncks Corner (https://chucktownstartups.com/event-6874206)
- 2026-11-10 6:00-7:00 PM: AI Advantage (monthly, 2nd Tuesday), 405 Jessen Ln, Suite E, Charleston (https://ai-chs.com/events/ai-advantage/)
- 2026-11-12 5:30-7:30 PM: PWB Q4 Signature Event: AI in building, Designafi, 100 Coastal Dr, Daniel Island (https://www.lowcountryhba.com/events/pwb-q4-signature-event)
- 2026-11-18 5:30-7:30 PM: Founders Roundtable feat. JT White (AI-assisted video studio), Tidewater, 2201 Mechanic St, Charleston (https://chucktownstartups.com/event-6857224)
- 2026-11-19 9:00 AM-2:30 PM: Building AI Agents for Entrepreneurs (1-day series), 11 Ewall St, Mt Pleasant (https://harborec.org/event/ai-agents-for-entrepreneurs-building-ai-agents-for-entrepreneurs/)
- 2026-12-03 9:00 AM-6:00 PM: SC Decoded + Tech Talk 2026 (AI is one listed topic), 11 Ewall St, Mount Pleasant (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sc-decoded-tech-talk-2026-tickets-1996100083082)

## FAQ
- What is the Charleston AI Playbook? A free directory of real, sourced examples of Charleston and Lowcountry businesses using AI. Each entry lists the tool, what it does, the result, a prompt you can copy, and a link to the original source.
- How do Charleston small businesses use AI? Most commonly to answer phones and messages (restaurants, service businesses, local government), to set prices (hotels and vacation rentals), and to handle paperwork and follow-up in the back office.
- Are these examples verified? Every entry names a real business and links to a public source such as the Post and Courier, SCBiz, or the business itself. Results published by a software vendor are marked as vendor-reported.
- Where can I learn AI in Charleston? The events page lists upcoming local workshops and meetups, including sessions at Charleston Digital, the Harbor Entrepreneur Center, Chucktown Startups and the Charleston AI lab.
- Can I add my business? Yes. Use the submit page. Every submission is read by the editor and checked against its source before it is published.
- Does it cost anything? No. The directory and the weekly email are free. Featured listings for local AI consultants will be clearly marked.

## Homepage answers
- How are Charleston businesses using AI? The directory on this page lists sourced Charleston and Lowcountry examples. Katsubō Chicken & Ramen in Park Circle answers takeout, reservation, hours, and hiring calls with an AI phone attendant. SoundHound reports that MUSC Health handles 2.2 million interactions a year by voice and chat. That figure is the vendor’s. The Town of Mount Pleasant uses Sawyer, from the Charleston company Citibot, and the directory lists 70+ languages on web and text. Statewide, the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce reported on September 14, 2026 that 17.2% of South Carolina respondents to the Census Bureau’s Business Trends and Outlook Survey had used AI in the last two weeks. The post is https://dew.sc.gov/labor-market-information-blog/2026-09/how-are-businesses-south-carolina-using-ai.
- What share of South Carolina businesses used AI? In that September 14, 2026 post, 17.2% of South Carolina respondents said they had used AI in the last two weeks. The post puts the U.S. figure at 17.9%. 73.4% of South Carolina businesses said they had not used AI, and 9.4% answered "Do not know." The survey was conducted between November 2025 and February 2026. It counts AI use the employer has authorized. It does not show a worker who skips a tool the firm told them to use, or one who opens a tool the employer never approved.
- What are South Carolina businesses using AI to do? The same post says about 13.6% of all South Carolina businesses used some form of AI for sales and marketing, 12.5% for strategy and business development, and 9.9% for public relations and communications. 19.7% of South Carolina businesses used generative AI such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, or Claude. Among those businesses, 86.5% used it for writing and editing, about 47.9% to search for information or technical help, and 42.5% to analyze, translate, or summarize documents.
- Is AI replacing workers, according to the state post? The post says that among businesses that reported using AI, 96.3% said AI had no effect on total employment. 14.8% of AI-using businesses said that, in the last six months, AI had performed operations previously done by existing software. In comparison, 8.3% said it had performed a task done by an employee. Within that group, 85.3% said only a small number of tasks previously done by employees were instead performed by AI.

## Events page answers
- What AI events are in Charleston SC? This page is the calendar of AI events in Charleston, SC. It lists workshops, meetups, and conferences with the date, start time, place, cost, and a link to the organizer. 16 events are listed, from October 2, 2026 through December 3, 2026.
- When is AI in the Liberal Arts at the College of Charleston? AI in the Liberal Arts is October 20, 2026, start time 3:00-4:00 PM, at Addlestone Library, Room 227, 205 Calhoun St, Charleston. Host: College of Charleston Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. Cost on this page: Free. It is on the calendar on this page.
- Which events on this calendar are free? Marked Free on this page: AI in the Liberal Arts (October 20, 2026, Addlestone Library, Room 227, 205 Calhoun St, Charleston); Agentic Cloud Day 2026 (AWS Community Day) (October 23, 2026, HarborWalk Center, 360 Concord St, Charleston); AI CAN Do It. SHOULD It? (November 6, 2026, The Aku Venue Event Center, 02 Corner Square Plaza, Moncks Corner). Any other cost is copied from the organizer and shown with that event.
- How do I add an AI event in Charleston? Send it through the submit page with a public link. Nothing is listed until the editor has checked that page.