How solopreneurs can use AI as a behind-the-scenes assistant

Running a one-person business often comes with an endless list of tasks to complete before the start of the next week. It's easy to procrastinate on non-essential or time-sensitive tasks, but they are still important. This can lead to feeling overwhelmed. I have been using automation for years to delegate tasks to machines. It is a useful tool, but only gets you so far. Most of the tasks that build up don't fit neatly into a sequence.

AI can handle more complex tasks and do the work that doesn't require human judgment. You can assign tasks to AI to complete them on their own or to bring you back in for review. This can make you feel more organized and on top of things. Before adding AI to your workflow, determine which tasks are appropriate. AI should only handle tasks that don't require judgment or the ability to make important decisions.

Tasks that involve joy or personal preference, such as filling out spreadsheets, are also good candidates. Administrative tasks like sorting, organizing, and managing emails are often the most time-consuming. Using AI for email triage can help prioritize incoming messages and generate responses that you can review and send yourself.

AI can also assist with meeting preparation and research, saving time by creating briefings and pulling relevant information from calls, files, and emails. However, AI cannot replace the need for verification of facts and figures. Finally, while AI can help with project management by pulling together information from various sources, it cannot fix a disorganized system. Before implementing AI, clearly define processes and expectations.