How CEOs can thrive in an AI world

Adapting to an AI-powered world isn’t just an option for CEOs—it’s an essential leadership strategy for growth. Truth be told, the AI revolution is bigger than the internet revolution, and it’s changing how we—as people, businesses, societies—operate on every level. Thus, staying competitive means embracing AI tools that increase efficiency, save time, and drive strategic growth. The question is…how comfortable do you feel with AI, and are you investing in learning how to leverage it? For many, the answer is a shaky no or I don’t know, so here are some essential AI tips for CEOs:

Embrace the Future, Don’t Fear It

First and foremost, if you’re proudly toting around that you are “old school,” especially in traditional brick-and-mortar industries, it’s time for a wakeup call. While AI can seem like a buzzword, it’s not; it can be highly practical and impactful. Thus, approach AI with a willingness to learn. AI shouldn’t be feared as something that will replace humans. Instead, see it as a tool that frees up your most valuable asset—your time—so that you can focus on growth and strategy.

Leverage AI to Maximize Time and Efficiency

AI should always be paired with the word efficiency. Thus, for leaders with packed schedules, AI is your new best friend. Here are three ways AI can save you time and streamline your work:

1.   Automate Communications:

Instead of writing every single email you send, create an AI-based communication assistant that knows your voice and style. (For example: ChatGPT which only costs $20 per month.) By spending a bit of time learning to prompt it well, you will save yourself a ton of time by having a handy AI to draft emails, responses, and proposals.

2.  Craft Engaging Speeches and Messages:

As CEOs, delivering impactful messages—whether in staff meetings or at industry events—is part of the job. Some CEOs aren’t the best writers or might lack in creativity. AI tools like Claude and Opus can assist you in crafting speeches and messages that model your voice, balance emotion with logic, and take out some of the guesswork for you.

3.  Use AI Notetakers for Meetings:

It is so important to be present in your meetings—and that inevitably means you won’t be able to write down or remember every little detail. Thus, AI notetakers like Donna can record, transcribe, and summarize your meetings for you. This will give you key takeaways in minutes, which not only saves you time from thumbing through recordings but helps you focus more in meetings, knowing that you won’t miss anything critical with the help from this savvy tool.

Stay Curious: AI is Constantly Evolving

News flash: AI is already here and it is advancing rapidly. Thus, to stay ahead you need to make curiosity a core part of your AI experience. Explore the latest AI tools. Look for ways to streamline processes. Experiment, experiment, experiment, so that you find out what works best for your company. The sooner you realize that leveraging AI is one of the most important leadership skills for CEOs to develop, the better. Using AI in operations, customer service, or marketing ultimately reduces costs and increases productivity.

AI Is Your Ultimate Growth Strategy

All in all, the world is ever-changing, so CEOs who value AI and use it in their strategic planning are better equipped to respond to changing market demands. By respecting AI as part of your growth strategy and using it effectively, you’re not only keeping pace with the times—you’re setting your business up to thrive in the future. So be proactive, invest in AI literacy, and encourage your team to embrace these tools too.