In the wake of hurricanes Ian, Helene, and Milton, Sanibel Island's business community is embracing artificial intelligence to expedite recovery efforts. Local entrepreneurs, in partnership with students from Florida Gulf Coast University, are pioneering innovative solutions to restore the island's economic vitality.

Miles Sweiss, proprietor of the Moke and Cabana Club, faced significant challenges after Hurricane Ian devastated his inventory. Determined to meet the continued demand from supportive visitors, Sweiss swiftly replenished his stock. He now operates from the newly established Shalimar Beach Resort, utilizing the Sanibel Solutions Dashboard to monitor the resurgence of the island's tourism sector. "Our business relies on visitors and tourists," Sweiss emphasized.

The Sanibel Solutions Dashboard, developed by Mark Bole and a team of FGCU students, tracks recovery metrics across tourism, housing, and the broader economy. Bole highlighted the dashboard's significance, stating, "This is some of the key recovery that we've got to have." Leveraging AI, the team efficiently generated the necessary code and website infrastructure. "We're not coders. We don't have to build websites by code, but we're able to talk to AI in simple language and get it to create the code and generate the website," Bole explained.

Students like Makenzi Mickley and Stella Kane have been instrumental in educating local businesses on AI's potential in recovery processes. Mickley expressed her astonishment at the resilience of business owners, remarking, "It was just crazy to hear about what they've been through." Kane advises treating AI as a conversational partner: "The main thing I tell people is that truly, to treat talking to AI like you're just talking to a friend, you are having an open conversation about something you might need help with or something along those lines."

Implementing AI has allowed Sweiss to streamline operations, creating a seamless rental experience for customers. He envisions expanding these AI-driven solutions beyond Sanibel to areas like Fort Myers Beach and potentially nationwide.

According to the latest data from the Sanibel Solutions Dashboard, 83% of businesses on the island have reopened since Hurricane Ian. However, hotels and short-term rentals have only reached 58% of their pre-Ian capacity, indicating ongoing challenges in the lodging sector.

The collaboration between Sanibel's business owners and FGCU students exemplifies a community-driven approach to recovery, harnessing technology to rebuild and strengthen the island's economy.