Social media seems, once again, to be ablaze with the famous question: How many r’s are in strawberry? It is one of those prompts that reliably resurfaces every few months, usually accompanied by screenshots of ChatGPT confidently giving the wrong answer. On the surface, it is a harmless curiosity. A bit of fun. But it also reveals something far more important about how AI works, and where its limitations still sit. It often looks like modern AI can accomplish any task. Want a fun marketing image? Easy. Need a blog post written? Done. Want to use AI to create a romantic song for your wedding anniversary? You’ll have it in seconds. Yet despite how magically the technology seems, AI still falls surprisingly flat when it comes to certain basic tasks. Tasks you would expect a seven-year-old to achieve with ease. It is amusing, and slightly baffling, to see ChatGPT struggle with something as simple as counting letters in a word. But it is not just ChatGPT being glitchy or careless. There are structural reasons why large language models struggle with certain words more than others. Take the question itself: how many r’s are there in the word strawberry? For most people, the answer is immediate. You picture the word, scan it, and count. Three. For ChatGPT, the process is completely different. It does not “see” words as letters in sequence. It predicts likely outputs based on patterns it has learned from enormous volumes of text. So, when asked, what answer does it give? Just a clear and confident: “two.” So, for all the billions in investment, the vast computing power, the pressure on global energy and water resources, and the near-mythical reputation AI now carries, it still cannot reliably answer how many r’s are in strawberry. That should give anyone pause before using AI for things that really matter. Why this matters for tax, finance, and professional advice The strawberry example is trivial, but the underlying issue is not. AI systems are designed to produce plausible responses, not guaranteed correct ones. When they get things wrong, they often do so with complete confidence. That is a dangerous combination in areas like tax, accounting, and compliance. With self-assessment deadlines approaching, it is tempting for business owners to ask AI questions such as: Can I claim this expense? Do I need to register for VAT? How should I structure my income to be more tax-efficient? AI can produce an answer quickly, and it will often sound reasonable. The problem is that it may be outdated, oversimplified, or simply incorrect for your specific circumstances. UK tax law is nuanced, highly contextual, and frequently updated.  This is particularly true for owner-managed and family businesses, where personal and business finances are often closely linked. AI does not understand your full financial picture unless you give it every detail, and even then, it cannot apply professional judgement in the way a qualified adviser can. The same risk applies when using AI for business communications or financial decisions. Using AI to draft explanations, documents, or summaries without proper review can introduce subtle errors. A missed exception, a misquoted threshold, or an outdated allowance can all undermine confidence and potentially create problems later. Using AI safely and sensibly in practice AI is not useless. Far from it. But it needs to be used with care and clear boundaries. Here are a few practical guidelines help reduce risk: Treat AI as a starting point, not a final answer. It can help you think, outline, or draft, but it should never be the last word on technical matters. Always verify facts against authoritative sources, such as HMRC guidance, legislation, or professional manuals. Do not rely on AI for personalised tax advice. Review anything important before acting on it. If you would not be comfortable defending a decision to HMRC, it should not be based on an unchecked AI response. Be especially cautious with deadlines, thresholds, and eligibility criteria. These are areas where AI errors are common and costly. AI can save time, spark ideas, and help with structure and clarity. What it cannot do, at least not yet, is replace professional judgement, accountability, or detailed technical understanding. If it can confidently miscount the letters in strawberry, it can just as confidently misstate a tax rule. The difference is that one is a joke on social media, and the other can have real financial consequences. How we can help At Navigate Accountancy, we support small and family-run businesses with clear, practical advice you can rely on. We understand that tools like AI can be useful, but when it comes to tax, compliance, and financial decisions, having a trusted adviser who understands your business still matters. If you would like a second opinion on a tax question, help making sense of your numbers, or reassurance that you are doing the right thing, we are always happy to talk things through. You can call us on 01709 589 439 or book a call with our team .

If you wanted a better life, you certainly wouldn’t choose something that would make you less happy. Yet surprisingly, many people do, and without even knowing it. Multiple studies show that people who travel longer distances to work are less happy than those with shorter journeys. The irony is clear. Many accepted those roles because the higher salary promised a better life. In practice however, this decision undermined the very outcome they hoped to achieve. Many business owners can fall into this same trap. Decisions look smart on paper, but over time they drain energy, limit progress, and weaken financial stability. The trade offs are hidden, and the cost becomes visible only when the strain has already set in. When decisions seem helpful but hold you back Business owners often choose paths that appear financially responsible but can move them further from the goals they truly care about. Examples include: Taking on every client because it feels wrong to turn down work, only to end up tired and with no time for better opportunities. Using low cost tools that create more manual work and slow you down. Discounting fees to win customers, only to end up with pressure on margins and cash flow. Delaying a key hire, believing it saves money, when the strain leads to mistakes and missed opportunities. Every decision feels right in the moment. Each one carries a hidden cost. Look beyond the surface number Good financial choices rely on understanding the full impact, not the headline figure. Use three lenses for every major decision. 1. Time Does this choice protect your time for strategy, quality, and growth, or does it take time away? Time is a cost even if it does not show in the accounts. 2. Energy Does it create clarity or confusion? Your performance as a business owner depends heavily on energy, focus, and mental space. 3. Financial strength beyond turnover Does the choice strengthen margins, cash flow, and resilience, or does it only look attractive in isolation? When you apply these three views, apparent wins often reveal themselves as losses. How you can avoid hidden trade offs Start by naming the outcome Better margins, calmer operations, more time for important work, less admin. Once this is clear, the right decision becomes more obvious. Value your time properly One of your most valuable assets is your time. When you give it a value, you stop doing work or tasks that do not make sense financially. Measure decisions by how they improve your working life, not just the numbers If turnover goes up but stress goes up too, the choice has not helped the business. Simplify Businesses can often make tools and processes more complicated than they need to be. Pick systems that are simple to use and that do not end up costing you more time than they save. How we can help If you take one idea away from this, let it be this: a business decision is only a good one if it moves you towards the life you want, not away from it. At Navigate, we do more than keep track of numbers, we help you build the business and lifestyle you want. To work with us, call our team on 01709 589 439 or book a discovery call with Frances . We are always happy to help.