In this episode of Building Better Foundations, we interview Hunter Jensen, founder and CEO of Barefoot Solutions and Barefoot Labs, to explore what it really takes when getting started with AI in your business. As companies rush toward AI adoption, Hunter offers grounded, practical advice on avoiding early mistakes, protecting your data, and choosing the right starting point.
About Hunter Jensen
Hunter Jensen is the Founder and CEO of Barefoot Solutions, a digital agency specializing in artificial intelligence, data science, and digital transformation. With over 20 years of experience, Hunter has worked with startups and Fortune 500 companies, including Microsoft and Salesforce, to implement innovative technology strategies that drive measurable ROI. A seasoned leader and expert in the AI space, Hunter helps businesses harness cutting-edge technologies to achieve growth and efficiency.
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Why “Just Add AI” Is Not a Strategy When Getting Started with AI in Your Business
Hunter begins by addressing the biggest misconception leaders face when getting started with AI in their business: the belief that a single, all-knowing model can absorb everything your business does and instantly deliver insights across every department.
“Leaders imagine an all-knowing model. We are nowhere near that being safe or realistic.” – Hunter Jensen
The core issue is access control. Even the best models cannot safely enforce who should or should not see certain data. If an LLM is trained on HR data, how do you stop it from sharing salary information with an employee who shouldn’t see it? This is why getting started with AI in your business must begin with clear boundaries and realistic expectations.
Safe First Steps When Getting Started with AI in Your Business
As Hunter explains, companies don’t need to dive straight into custom models. A safer, simpler path exists for getting started with AI in your business, especially for teams on Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace.
Start With Tools Already Built Into Your Environment
Hunter recommends two solid, low-risk entry points:
- Microsoft 365 Copilot
- Google Gemini for Workspace
These platforms provide:
- Built-in enterprise protections
- Familiar workflows
- Safe, contained AI access
- A gentle learning curve for employees
Hunter emphasizes that employees are already using public AI tools, even if policy forbids it. When getting started with AI in your business, providing approved tools is essential to keeping data safe.
“If you’re not providing safe tools, your team will use unsafe ones.” – Hunter Jensen
These tools won’t solve every AI need, but they are an ideal first step.
Choosing the Right Model for Your Needs
Another common question when getting started with AI in your business is: Which model is best? ChatGPT? Gemini? Claude?
Hunter explains that the landscape changes weekly—sometimes daily. Today’s leading model could be irelevent tomorrow. For this reason, businesses should avoid hard commitments to a single model.
Experiment Before Committing
Hunter suggests opening multiple LLMs side-by-side—such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity—and testing each for quality and speed. This gives teams a feel for what works before deciding how AI fits into their workflow.
This experimentation mindset is essential when getting started with AI in your business because:
- Different models excel at different tasks
- Some models are faster or cheaper
- Some handle long context or code better
- New releases constantly change the landscape
Your AI system should remain flexible enough to shift models as needed.
Protecting Your Data from Day One
One of Hunter’s strongest warnings is about data safety. If you’re serious about getting started with AI in your business, you must pay attention to licensing.
If you are not paying for AI, you have no control over your data.
Some industries—like legal, finance, and healthcare—may need even stricter controls or private deployments. This leads naturally to the next stage of AI adoption.
The Next Step After Getting Started with AI in Your Business
Once companies understand their needs, the next phase is building an internal system that:
- Connects securely to business software
- Honors existing user permissions
- Keeps all data inside the company network
- Uses models selected for specific tasks
Hunter’s product Compass is perfect for this phase. Instead of trusting the model to protect data, you rely on your own systems and access controls. This is how AI becomes truly safe and powerful.
“The model should only see what the user is allowed to see—nothing more.” – Hunter Jensen
Final Thoughts on Getting Started with AI in Your Business
Part 1 of our interview with Hunter Jensen makes one thing clear: getting started with AI in your business isn’t about chasing the latest model. It’s about protecting your data, giving your team safe tools, and preparing for a multi-model future.
Stay tuned for Part 2 as we dive deeper into internal AI deployment, advanced architectures, and building long-term AI strategy.
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