AI and I (Part 2): On Work Productivity and Business Performance

“How I Use AI to Think Smarter, Work Better, and Drive Results”

In Part 1 of “AI and I”, I shared my confession: I’m in love with AI. Not just because it’s fascinating, but because it’s transforming how I work, think, and create.

If the first part was about why I love AI, the types, uses, benefits, ethical concerns and challenges, this part 2 is about how that love for AI shows up every day in productivity, decision-making, team performance, and business growth.

The New Reality of Work

Today’s workplace is faster, louder, and more connected than ever. Emails, meetings, strategy sessions, and endless data can make it easy to feel busy but not always productive. As a certified #digitalization consultant amongst other caps that I wear, AI changes that. It helps me (and the teams I work with) strategically move from activity to clarity, from information to intelligence, and from effort to impact.

The real power of AI lies not in replacing people but in amplifying human performance.

My AI Productivity and Performance Toolbox

I use different AI tools depending on the project, goal, or challenge.Here’s how some of them (there are many more) help me transform the way I work and deliver results:

A. For General Work Productivity

1. Microsoft Copilot & Google Gemini: my everyday digital assistants. They summarize emails, generate reports, manage schedules, and even provide quick data insights.
2. Notion AI & ClickUp Brain: to organize tasks, track goals, and plan efficiently with smart suggestions.
3. Calendly & Reclaim.ai: to automate scheduling and protect deep work time.
4. Otter.ai & Fireflies.ai: to record and summarize meetings so no idea is ever lost or miss meetings.

B. For Business Development, Sales, and Marketing

1. ChatGPT / Perplexity / DeepSeek/ Grammarly/Quilbot: for proposal writing, research, and sales copy creation.
2. Canva Magic Studio & Gamma AI: to design presentations, proposals, and marketing materials quickly and beautifully.
3. ElevenLabs: for voiceovers and video storytelling, turning ideas into engaging pitches or explainer content.
4. HubSpot AI & Apollo.io: for automating outreach, tracking leads, and understanding customer behavior.

C. For Market Intelligence and Strategy

1. Grok & Gemini AI – for trend monitoring, competitor analysis, and industry scanning in real time.
2. AlphaSense & Crayon AI: for market research and insight generation across sectors.
3. ChatGPT Advanced Data Analysis (ADA): for synthesizing large datasets and uncovering actionable insights.

D. For Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

1. Power BI with Copilot: to visualize project performance and metrics dynamically.
2. ChatGPT Vision & Tableau AI: to interpret dashboards and summarize outcomes clearly.
3. Otter.ai & Notion AI: for creating M&E documentation and meeting summaries automatically.

E. For Team Management and Collaboration

1. Slack AI & Trello AI: to streamline communication and task management.
2. ClickUp Brain & Notion AI: for transparent goal tracking, performance alignment, and shared visibility.
3. ElevenLabs: for creating personalized audio messages or updates that humanize digital communication.

The Impact: From Efficiency to Excellence

Since adopting AI across my work, I’ve seen transformation not just in speed  but in depth and quality.
AI helps me:

1. Automate repetitive work and focus on strategic thinking.
2. Make faster, data-driven decisions.
3. Present insights in engaging, visual, and human-centered ways.
4. Enable my teams and clients to stay aligned, even across locations.

It’s like having a team of virtual analysts, designers, and assistants available 24/7, yet always improving.

Ethical and Human Considerations

Of course, AI also comes with responsibility.
As we automate and analyze more, we must protect:

1. Privacy: ensuring client and team data remain confidential.
2. Accountability: being transparent when AI assists in decision-making.
3. Balance: ensuring technology enhances human connection, not replaces it.

AI may boost performance, but it’s still people who give purpose.

Looking Ahead

AI has redefined productivity not by making us busier, but by freeing us to focus on what truly matters.

In the next post, “AI and I” part 3,” I will share how AI is revolutionizing in another role.

Until then, remember:
AI doesn’t just make us faster, it makes us future-ready. 

Have an AI-mazing day!

C’est moi
Dr Funke Medun

#AIandI  #DigitalTransformation  #FutureOfWork #AIinBusiness #Performance #EthicalAI #Innovation #Leadership