AI Negotiation Bot: Automating the Art of the Deal
The Pitch
In this episode of Business Related, Sebastian pitches an AI negotiation bot designed to help freelancers negotiate better rates. "You're a freelancer and you don't know what's your best price you can ask for a specific job," Sebastian explains. "I think the best would actually be to have an AI bot negotiating that with you." He illustrates with a scenario: when Maartje asks about his daily rate, he could delegate the potentially uncomfortable negotiation to an AI. The freelancer simply sets parameters like "minimum €500 per day, sky's the limit" and the AI handles the rest, removing the awkwardness from pricing discussions.
Destroy & Defend
Maartje immediately raises concerns about trust on both sides. "How do you as a freelancer ensure you're getting the right prices?" she asks. "And how do you build trust when there isn't a human negotiating with you?" She also wonders if clients might game the system when they know they're negotiating with AI.
Sebastian counters these objections confidently. "In the end it's two systems fighting against each other," he explains. One system works to raise the price while the other tries to lower it, with each having limits - just like human negotiation. He emphasizes that transparency about using AI shouldn't be an issue. When Maartje questions the market size, Sebastian expands the vision: "Freelancers is a start, but that can be used for maybe even more. Contract negotiation for your next employment contract? Why not?"
AI Evaluation
The AI analysis highlights several strengths: the solution addresses a clear need in the growing freelancer market with potential to expand to small businesses. While acknowledging trust barriers, it notes the required technology is achievable with current capabilities. The business model looks promising - a software-based subscription offering high margins and strong customer lifetime value. Most importantly, the AI-driven approach scales efficiently through digital channels and should improve with growing user data.
Will They Continue?
Both Maartje and Sebastian see potential in the idea. Maartje admits, "I'm skeptical if it will work, but it's easy to try out," appreciating the relatively low barrier to creating an initial experiment. Sebastian agrees, noting it should be "fairly easy to get it going." The pair decide to move forward with testing the concept, seeing it as a low-risk opportunity to explore automating one of business's most challenging human interactions.
