Where to beginPick a task repeated at least twice a week, with predictable input and an output you can review quickly. Stop if it saves less than 30 minutes a week after two weeks.

1. Inbox to action list

Use normal email rules first, then ask an assistant to classify necessary text into action, deadline, owner, and risk. Never automate payments, credential sharing, or contractual replies.

2. Meeting to verified decisions

Use only this authorized transcript. Return:
- Confirmed decisions
- Tasks: owner and date
- Open questions
- Statements requiring verification
Do not invent owners or deadlines.

Obtain recording consent and manually check every name, date, and number.

3. Invoices to a review register

Extract date, supplier, number, item, and amount from anonymized documents. Compare ten historical invoices field by field. Missing information must be marked pending, never guessed. AI prepares; you authorize accounting and payment.

4. One article to four written formats

Turn your own article into an email, LinkedIn post, FAQ, and summary. Require every factual claim to come from the source. Adapt each version rather than duplicating identical text.

5. Spreadsheet to weekly report

Define metrics, comparison period, and alert thresholds. Preserve the original sheet and verify important calculations with formulas.

Measure the return

Monthly time recovered =
(minutes per run × monthly runs)
− review minutes
− maintenance minutes

If a US$20 tool saves only two hours and you value an hour at US$10, it barely covers its price. Measure first.

Seven-day rollout

  1. Document the manual process.
  2. Remove sensitive data from tests.
  3. Run five historical cases.
  4. Record errors and exceptions.
  5. Add mandatory review.
  6. Run in parallel with the old process.
  7. Keep, revise, or stop based on measured time.
Mandatory stopIf the tool sends, deletes, pays, or publishes without review, it is not a suitable first automation.