Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a fundamental skill for many workers in various industries and is playing a critical role in advancing their careers. Despite the massive growth of AI technology, a significant percentage of the U.S. workforce still does not use AI at work, as indicated by a recent Pew Research Center analysis. However, for those who have embraced AI, the benefits are clear.
According to a survey of early adopters, 79% of individuals using AI chat platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Copilot for business reported that it helped them work faster. Additionally, 72% mentioned that AI significantly enhanced their job performance. These findings beg the question of how AI is improving work efficiency and whether the minority of skeptics is justified in their hesitation towards adopting AI in the workplace.
To delve deeper into this topic, we spoke with five AI super users who shared their experiences with leveraging AI technology to improve their work productivity. One common theme among these users was the use of lifelike video avatars and personalized AI instructors to streamline and scale critical tasks.
For Ruth Favela, an AI Marketing Manager at Tomorrow.io, AI avatars have become a game-changer in terms of content production. By utilizing the HeyGen AI video creator, Favela and her team were able to create lifelike avatars of their Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) in a matter of minutes, saving weeks of production time. These AI-generated avatars allowed them to produce a large volume of high-quality videos quickly, giving them the flexibility to focus on more strategic and impactful content creation.
Ryan Baum, an independent SaaS growth consultant, credits AI for expanding his capabilities rather than replacing his original thinking. He developed a unique approach called the “Devil’s Auditor” prompt, which he uses with large language models (LLMs) to identify flaws in his ideas before presenting them to clients. This process helps him validate his ideas, spot potential pitfalls, and enhance the quality of his work.
Sierra Dowd, Founder and Principal Strategist at else&ever, relies on AI to streamline her presentation design process. By using AI-generated scripts to create on-brand Canva slide decks, she has been able to reduce hours of design work to just minutes. This approach allows her to focus on crafting compelling narratives and delivering high-quality presentations to her clients.
Andrea Bonaiuto, head of product marketing at ATPCO, recognizes AI as a standard tool in the contemporary workplace. She has embraced AI technologies for coaching and professional development, using AI-powered “coaches” to prepare for important meetings and interactions. By leveraging AI to scale coaching and critical thinking throughout her team, Bonaiuto has seen significant improvements in productivity and confidence among her employees.
In conclusion, AI has undoubtedly become a crucial skill for modern knowledge workers, enabling them to work faster, think more critically, and deliver higher-quality results. As more individuals and organizations continue to adopt AI technology, the opportunities for growth and advancement in the workplace will only continue to expand. Embracing AI as a basic skill can open up new possibilities and drive innovation in various industries, paving the way for a more efficient and productive workforce.