Upper Cumberland AI Brief
Practical AI for local businesses. Every other Tuesday, a five-minute read.
AI for your business, minus the hype.
A free five-minute email every other Tuesday: one AI tip you can use that week, the news that matters, scams to watch for, and local events. Sign up and get 10 copy-paste AI prompts.
What's in every issue
The 15-minute win: one task you can hand to AI this week, with the exact prompt to copy.
What matters this week: three AI news items, explained for a business owner, not a tech blog.
Watch out: the AI scams and voice-clone tricks hitting small businesses right now.
Free help: a no-cost course, tool or local program worth your time.
Around the Upper Cumberland: SBDC workshops, Chamber events and local businesses putting AI to work.
Who's behind this
I'm Matthew Peterson. I live in Cookeville, study business IT at Tennessee Tech, and build software and websites for a living. Before that I spent two and a half years running the tech behind a local radio group, including putting AI to work in its newsroom.
I started this brief because local owners keep asking me the same question: which of this AI stuff is actually worth my time? This is my answer, every other Tuesday.
Questions
Is it really free?
Yes. There's no paid version. I also help local businesses set up AI tools, and the brief will mention that now and then. Reading it never obligates you to anything.
Who is it for?
Owners and managers of small businesses in the 14-county Upper Cumberland: Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Van Buren, Warren and White.
Do I need to be good with tech?
No. If you can send a text, you can use every tip in the brief.
Is the brief written by AI?
AI helps me research and draft each issue. I check every fact and link, add the local information, and write the personal notes myself. I don't send anything I haven't read and stand behind.
How often will I hear from you?
Every other Tuesday morning. That's all.
What do you do with my email?
I use it only to send the brief and to reply when you write to me. It's never sold, rented or traded. The brief is sent through beehiiv, and replies pass through my email forwarding service. You can unsubscribe in one click from any issue. Read the privacy policy.
Privacy Policy
Last updated: November 11, 2026
The Upper Cumberland AI Brief is a free email newsletter published by Matthew Peterson in Cookeville, Tennessee. This page explains what information I collect, how I use it, and your choices.
What I collect
Your email address and first name, and your type of business if you choose to share it, when you subscribe.
Basic email activity, such as whether an issue was opened or a link was clicked. The email service records this automatically.
Anything you send me when you reply to an email.
How I use it
To send you the newsletter and the free guide you signed up for.
To reply when you write to me.
To see which topics are useful, so I can make the newsletter better.
What I never do
Sell, rent or trade your information.
Add you to any other list without asking you first.
Who else handles it
The newsletter is sent through beehiiv, which stores subscriber information for me. Replies to the newsletter pass through Cloudflare, which forwards them to my inbox. Each company has its own privacy policy.
Cookies
This website is hosted by beehiiv, which may use cookies to keep you signed in and to measure site traffic.
Your choices
Unsubscribe at any time using the link at the bottom of any email.
To see, correct or delete your information, email [email protected] and I will handle it within 30 days.
Children
This newsletter is for business owners and is not directed at children under 13.
Changes
If this policy changes, I will update the date at the top of this page. Significant changes will be announced in the newsletter.
Contact
Email [email protected]. Mail: 1344 Carolina Ave., Apt. B, Cookeville, TN 38501