As artificial intelligence continues to permeate workplaces, it is reshaping how people perform their jobs across various industries. Teachers, marketers, product managers, and others are finding creative ways to leverage AI tools to save time, generate ideas, and improve efficiency.
Unpacking Jargon
Kristin Moore, a technical product manager at PERQ, uses AI to help her understand complex technical conversations. When engineers discuss topics she does not fully grasp, she uploads recorded meetings to Claude, an AI assistant by Anthropic, and asks it to summarize what she needs to do. "It picks up on all of that terminology that I don’t understand, and it can simplify it into something that I can consume," Moore said. She also uses AI to analyze emails and support tickets to determine client needs, freeing up hours each week.
Grading Papers
Kyle Weimar, an elementary school teacher in Florida, uses AI to grade papers and create support plans for struggling students. He uploads test scores and health information to his district's AI tool, which helps brainstorm interventions. For grading, he uploads 100 papers to an AI agent with a scoring guide, and it provides instant feedback. "I can do that in 30 minutes, whereas it would have taken me a week before," he said. Teachers are overwhelmed, so any tool that makes work more viable is welcomed.
Working a Room
Ashley Smith, head of marketing at HireQuest, uses Claude to build a dashboard analyzing website traffic and social media trends. She informs franchisees about what followers are reacting to. At a manufacturing trade show, her team took screenshots of target companies, uploaded them to AI, and generated a list with insights on staffing needs. The hours saved allowed Smith to spend more one-on-one time with franchisees. "AI has not replaced anything. It’s only expanded what we’re able to offer," she said.
Rebranding the Brawny Paper Towel Man
Andrew Markle, a design leader at Georgia Pacific, uses AI to create quick visuals for brand brainstorming. When modernizing the Brawny paper towel brand, his team asked AI to depict the packaging mascot with different beard lengths. AI helped review ideas faster and predicted consumer responses. "It’s not replacing the creative eye," Markle said, noting that final vision comes from ad agencies and illustrators.
Creating Quizzes
Kenneth Lynch, a special education coach in Tulsa, Oklahoma, uses AI to develop quizzes for students with developmental disabilities. When a student wanted to pursue automotive work, Lynch uploaded a mechanical instructions book to AI, which generated chapter quizzes. However, he is cautious about using AI for psychological diagnoses, as it struggles with understanding comorbid conditions.
Preparing for Meetings and Drafting Emails
Ravi Pendse, University of Michigan's CIO, uses AI to prepare for meetings by predicting questions. "It has made me a lot more efficient," he said, allowing more focus on mental health. The university also created an AI tutor for coursework. Pendse warns about AI eroding critical thinking, especially in children. Bob Jones, assistant vice president, uses AI to ensure his emails are succinct and neutral. "AI is really good at assessing how I’m presenting myself," he said.
Understanding Customer Needs
Natalie Blythe, marketing director at SumnerOne, uses AI to create email campaigns and social media posts. She also asks ChatGPT to profile ideal customers, such as university admissions directors, predicting their top problems and how her products can solve them. Initially fearful of AI, Blythe now embraces its efficiencies. "The efficiencies gained out of it have been tremendous," she said.
