Azure

Welcome back to the Cozy AI Kitchen, where our latest episode explores how creators and small business owners use AI to turn passion into impact. In this episode, we’re joined by Jeremy Likness, an astrophotographer, who shares how he uses Microsoft Copilot and AI-powered tools to transform stunning images of the night sky into a creative business. From analyzing photos and pricing artwork to generating cinematic videos, animations, and music, Jeremy walks us through real, practical ways AI helps him save time, reduce costs, and tell better stories, without writing custom code. Whether you’re a photographer, artist, or small business owner curious about AI, this episode shows how accessible and powerful these tools can be when you lean into them. What You’ll Learn: - How to use Microsoft Copilot to critique and analyze photography - AI-driven pricing strategies for selling art and prints - Turning still images into animated, cinematic video - Using AI to create music, storytelling visuals, and transitions - How small business owners can use AI without technical expertise - Why “just ask AI” is often the best place to start Key Takeaways - You don’t need to be technical to benefit from AI - Copilot works best when grounded in real-world constraints - AI excels at filling the “everything else” gap for small businesses - Creativity + AI unlocks entirely new storytelling formats Chapters 00:00 - Breadsticks, Telescopes, and Looking at the Stars 00:08 - Welcome to Cozy AI Kitchen 00:49 - Meet Astrophotographer Jeremy Likness 01:59 - Telescopes, Cameras, and Astrophotography Gear 02:47 - Turning Photos Into a Business With AI 03:19 - Using Microsoft Copilot to Analyze Images 04:29 - AI Pricing Strategy for Photography 05:32 - Running a Side Hustle With Limited Time 06:22 - Visualizing Canvas vs Metal Prints With AI 07:32 - Using Copilot as a No-Code AI Harness 08:10 - Animating Still Images for Video 09:13 - Storytelling With Constellations and Nebulae 10:28 - Seamless AI Transitions Between Images 10:52 - AI for Diagrams and Behind-the-Scenes Storytelling 11:04 - Generating Cinematic Music With AI 12:23 - Long-Form Ambient Space Videos 13:06 - Advice for Small Business Owners Using AI 14:48 - Saving Money With AI-Powered 3D Creation 16:06 - Final Takeaway: If You Need Help With AI, Ask AI Speakers Jeremy Likness Astrophotographer & Principal Product Manager https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremylikness/ https://www.dswgalleries.com/ John Maeda - Host, Cozy AI Kitchen VP of Design and Artificial Intelligence, Microsoft https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmaeda/ Resources & Links 🚀 Try Azure for free https://aka.ms/AzureFreeTrialYT 🚀 Try Microsoft Copilot with Microsoft 365 https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/copilot 📚 Learn more about AI for small businesses https://learn.microsoft.com/ai 🎯 Explore more Cozy AI Kitchen episodes https://aka.ms/CAIK-YTPlaylist 🔔 Subscribe for more Microsoft Developer content Hashtags #CozyAIKitchen #MicrosoftCopilot #AIForCreatives #SmallBusiness #Photography #Astrophotography #AIStorytelling #SideHustle #NoCode #CreatorEconomy #MicrosoftDeveloper #AI