Key Insight Index

1. AI multiplies human intelligence instead of replacing it.
2. Prompting is the most important modern skill for professionals.
3. Consistent use of AI tools saves several hours each week.
4. The real benefit of AI is not just the time saved, but how that time is used.
5. Leaders must guide AI adoption with empathy and clarity instead of fear.

When I spoke at the SIM Women Colorado event, I expected a technical discussion about tools and automation. What I experienced instead was a very real conversation about the future of work. A hundred professionals gathered to explore how AI could make their work more effective, but the underlying theme was more about control and confidence.

It reminded me that my own relationship with AI began from a place of uncertainty. As a father, I worried about what this technology meant for my children’s future jobs. Would AI take over the skills that humans built their lives on? That concern drove me to learn everything I could. Once I began to understand how AI worked, fear turned into curiosity, and curiosity turned into action. Now, I see AI as the greatest personal productivity amplifier of our time.

We’re Living in The Fastest Shift in Work Habits in Modern History

AI is advancing at a speed unlike anything we have seen before. Technology used to double in capability every 18 months, but AI’s intelligence now doubles roughly every three months. The pace is astonishing, and while it can be intimidating, it also means that anyone who is willing to learn can stay ahead of the curve.

At Pisteyo, we have worked with more than a hundred companies and over two thousand employees to help them integrate AI into their daily routines. Across every industry, one pattern remains the same. Once employees stop fearing the technology and begin experimenting with it, they gain an average of four and a half hours back each week. That is more than 10% of their working time, but what we do with that time once we have it?

Understanding Real Return on Investment in AI

During my keynote, I asked the audience to write down two things. First, what do you do every day that you wish you did not have to do?

Second, what do you wish you had more time to do? Their answers were honest and familiar. Updating Salesforce. Taking notes. Scheduling meetings. Writing reports that no one reads. Sending endless follow-up emails.

Then I asked them to imagine AI taking over eighty percent of those tasks. The room went quiet.

This is not a far-off vision of AI. We are already seeing companies save millions of dollars simply by automating these routine functions. But the real transformation is not financial. When people free themselves from constant low-value work, they gain back time for strategy, learning, and creativity.

One participant shared how Microsoft Copilot allowed her to follow business meetings in Spanish, a language she does not speak. Another explained how ChatGPT became her virtual assistant, highlighting which emails truly required attention. AI did not make their work easier in the shallow sense of the word, it made them more present, more capable, and more engaged.

Prompting Is the New Superpower

The hardest part of working with AI is not understanding the technology but knowing how to talk to it.

We have all spent years learning how to search the internet using short keyword phrases such as “best marketing strategy” or “top project management tools.” That method does not work with AI. AI wants to understand context. It wants to know who you are, what role you play, what goal you have, and what tone you need.

I encourage people to stop typing and start talking.

When you speak to AI, even for one minute, you naturally provide richer information. You might say, “I am a regional sales leader preparing a 90-day plan for my team. I want it to sound professional but approachable.” That kind of direction produces a much better output than a short text command ever could.

If the answer is not perfect, ask the AI to help you improve it. Say, “What five questions could I answer to make your response better?” That single sentence turns the AI from a tool into a collaborator.

AI does not remove the need for critical thinking. It rewards it. The quality of your thinking determines the quality of the output.

The Habit of Asking Why

At Pisteyo, I teach new our worksop students something I call “rabbit-holing.” Whenever you get an answer from AI, do not stop at face value.

Ask why. Why this tone? Why this solution? Why this data point?

AI’s goal is to complete a thought, not to judge its truth. It predicts, it does not reason. By asking why, you force both yourself and the system to clarify assumptions. The process builds understanding and produces better decisions.

I warn clients about what I call “AI slop.” That happens when people use the first draft an AI produces and rush to deliver it. It looks fast, but it is shallow. Speed is not a substitute for quality. You still own the result. The people who thrive in this new era are those who take ownership of their outputs and use AI to extend, not replace, their thinking.

Building a Personal AI Toolkit

Each AI tool has its strengths.

ChatGPT is my preferred tool for strategy, writing, and creative problem solving.

Copilot is ideal for organizations deeply invested in Microsoft systems because it is secure and integrated.

Claude excels at visual work, coding, and layout design.

Gemini is tightly connected to Google Workspace and is excellent for research and collaboration.

Professionals typically already use two or three of these tools without realizing it. The real productivity boost comes when you begin to connect them. You can use one for drafting, another for analysis, and a third for meeting notes or presentation slides.

AI can even interpret handwriting. I have seen manufacturing teams take a photo of a factory floor and ask, “What safety risks do you see?” The AI pointed out missing helmets and loose cords that violated safety policy. That is not science fiction. That is the new reality of visual intelligence at work.

Everyday AI “Cheat Codes”

There are a few prompts that can immediately change how you manage your workday.

The Executive Assistant Prompt
Ask the AI to act like your long-time assistant who knows your preferences. Have it review your inbox, summarize what matters, identify key actions, and draft responses.

The Boss Persona Prompt
Upload a few of your manager’s emails and ask AI to create a “boss profile.” Then say, “How should I communicate this proposal to get approval?” You will be surprised how accurately it predicts objections.

The Role-Play Prompt
If you are preparing for a tough conversation such as pushing back on a deadline, ask the AI to role-play the meeting with you. Practice your talking points and test responses in advance.

The Executive Coach Prompt
Create a virtual coach who helps you reflect on your priorities every Friday afternoon. Ask it to challenge your focus and suggest how to spend the next week more strategically.

From Fear to Empowerment

Someone at the event asked, “Aren’t we just automating ourselves out of jobs?” It is a valid question. My answer was simple. AI is not coming for your job. It is coming for your repetitive tasks.

The future belongs to people who adopt AI intentionally. Learn how to use it to amplify your communication, decision making, and empathy. Help your teams understand that AI is not a threat but a tool that expands their ability to lead.

When employees learn to use AI confidently, their value grows. The technology does not remove their humanity; it gives them more time to express it.

‍The Next Era of Work Is Deeply Human

AI is not a machine that replaces us. It is a thinking partner that evolves with us.

As leaders, our role is to guide its use with clarity and responsibility. The policies we create around AI are not just technical guardrails. They are cultural statements that define how our organizations view trust, innovation, and empowerment.

At a personal level, the best thing you can do is experiment. Whenever you catch yourself wondering, “Can AI help with this?” try it. The answer is almost always yes. But the real question is, should it? The real productivity advantage comes when we use these tools to reclaim time for connection, curiosity, and creativity.

Special Thank You

A heartfelt thank you to SIM Women Colorado for the invitation to join your incredible speaker panel. It was an honor for Shawn Mills to share ideas and engage in such an inspiring conversation with such a forward-thinking community where meaningful innovation happens.

About the Author

‍Shawn Mills is the CEO and Founding Partner of Pisteyo, a management consulting firm that helps organizations unlock the business power of artificial intelligence. A lifelong technologist and entrepreneur, Shawn has built and scaled multiple companies. At Pisteyo, he focuses on helping leaders align AI with business strategy, culture, and measurable outcomes.

This use case article was written from Shawn's keynote on practical AI habits for boosting personal productivity for SIM Women Colorado.