How to use AI to be more productive at work
AI is not a magic solution that replaces work. But used the right way, it eliminates a ton
of boring, repetitive tasks, frees up time for what actually matters, and improves the quality
of what you deliver. The secret is knowing where and how to apply it.
After spending a lot of time using AI intensively in my day-to-day, a few applications stand
out far more than others. Let me share what actually works.
Writing and editing text
This is the most immediate application. Emails, reports, proposals, presentations —
anything involving text benefits from AI as a partner.
But there’s a right way to do it. Instead of asking “write an email to my client”, provide
context: who the client is, what the goal of the email is, what tone you want, what problem
is being communicated. The more specific your request, the better the result.
Also use it to revise text you’ve already written — AI is excellent at spotting ambiguities,
improving clarity, and suggesting more formal or more direct alternatives.
Summarizing information
Got an 80-page report you need to understand today? Drop it into Claude or ChatGPT
and ask for a summary of the key points. Long meeting notes? A structured bullet-point
summary in seconds. A technical article in a language you barely read? Translated and
summarized in plain language.
This alone justifies using AI at work.
Coding and automation
For people who work in tech, AI as a coding partner is transformative. You describe what
you need, it generates the code. You found a bug, it helps debug. You’re unfamiliar with
a particular language, it explains the code in detail.
But even people who don’t code can benefit: AI helps create Excel macros, automate
repetitive tasks in spreadsheets, and build complex formulas.
Research and information synthesis
Instead of spending hours researching a topic, you can ask AI to explain a concept,
compare options, or list the pros and cons of a decision. It works better as a starting point
than as a final source — always validate important information in primary sources.
Brainstorming and creative unblocking
Stuck on a project? Need ideas for a campaign, names for a product, questions for an
interview? AI is great at generating volume. Not every idea will be good, but one good
idea out of twenty makes it worthwhile.
The secret to productivity with AI
Learn to write good prompts — clear instructions with context and desired format. And
don’t accept the first result without a critical eye. Use AI as a first draft, not as a finished
product.