# The spark: What entrepreneurs teach us about artificial intelligence, a narrative inquiry

Published in[Phoenix Scholar](/research/publications/phoenix-scholar.html)  
[Volume 9 Issue 1, Page 79](/research/publications/phoenix-scholar/vol-9-issue-1.html), Fall, 2026

https://doi.org/10.64657/XKHN3953

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## Author

Janice Cardwell, Ph.D.  
Bonnie Ellis, Ph.D.

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## Abstract

Entrepreneurs are rapidly adopting artificial intelligence (AI) as both a creative partner and an operational resource. However, a semantic review of 50 studies, published between 2024 and 2026 revealed that existing scholarships have focused primarily on AI adoption in education and business enterprises, leaving limited understanding of how individual entrepreneurs use AI to generate ideas, innovate, and build new ventures. To address this gap, this study involved purposeful sampling with a podcast-based interview format to collect and analyze entrepreneurial AI experiences. Using narrative inquiry, investigators examined the lived experience of one entrepreneur—Ron—whose AI journey began with a question at a shooting range. In fewer than four months, Ron’s collaboration and communication with his ChatGPT named “Homie” helped him to produce a patented product, a published book, a website, and an operational business. His narrative illustrates how entrepreneurial engagement with AI can support venture development through prompting, iterative questioning, contextual refinement, and collaborative problem-solving. Findings suggest that entrepreneurs provide a vital lens for understanding AI’s creative and operational potential. The study offers implications for educators, practitioners, and researchers. Future research could expand narrative samples, compare entrepreneurs’ AI experiences across contexts, and examine longitudinal patterns in entrepreneurial AI use.

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