My Week with AI: Exploring Automation in the Workplace

In my role as an operations assistant at a small logistics company, I recently embarked on a fascinating experiment: substituting parts of my job with artificial intelligence for an entire week. My goal was to evaluate whether AI could effectively take on about 80% of my responsibilities.

To facilitate this experiment, I utilized several innovative tools:

• ChatGPT-4: For drafting emails and creating standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Blackbox AI: To condense lengthy documents into easily digestible summaries.
• Notion AI: For keeping track of meeting notes efficiently.
• Zapier integrated with GPT: To automate repetitive tasks seamlessly.

Insights from My Experiment

Through this week-long trial, I discovered some valuable insights about the capabilities and limitations of AI in the workplace:

1. Automating Mundane Tasks: AI excelled at handling repetitive and tedious duties, particularly in crafting SOPs and standardized email templates. This aspect was undoubtedly a time-saver.

2. Need for Context: Despite its efficiency, AI required substantial contextual information to communicate effectively. Without proper guidance, the output often came off as robotic and impersonal.

3. Supervision Required: I found that I still had to oversee the AI tools more than I had anticipated. The notion that AI would completely take over my tasks was overly optimistic; human input and oversight remained crucial.

The Biggest Takeaway

One of the most significant benefits I experienced during this week was a considerable time savings—approximately 12 hours! This newfound time allowed me to reassess my role and contributions to the team.

A Shift in Perspective

Perhaps the most unexpected outcome of this experiment was the shift in how I perceive my value within the organization. Instead of merely completing tasks, I began to see myself as a designer of systems—developing frameworks through which tasks can be accomplished more efficiently. This realization sparked a deeper understanding of my importance in a landscape increasingly influenced by AI technologies.

In conclusion, while AI can alleviate many day-to-day tasks, it also presents an opportunity for professionals to redefine their roles and focus on strategic planning and system design. This experience has left me excited about the future possibilities of AI in the workplace and eager to explore them further.