No matter where we look these days, artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere! AI-generated images and videos remain a trending topic on multiple online forums and the launch of ChatGPT has left some of the brightest minds both excited and terrified. There is no denying that this technology is growing in terms of capability and popularity – sometimes even beyond our own comprehension! It is only natural a Personal Assistant, Executive Assistant, or any Administrative Professional building a successful career might question whether they will be eventually doomed with the prospect of AI taking their place.
What is AI?
To simplify, AI combines large data sets with advanced processing algorithms which allows it to deliver outcomes in a matter of seconds. This is very handy when you have large volumes of data that needs either categorising or processing.
As much as science fiction has the tendency to feed our imagination when it comes to the future, AI is still very much lacking when it comes to the following:
- Instinct: assisting and caring for others, social perceptiveness
- Common Sense: negotiation
- Lateral Thinking: originality, creativity
Would you get rid of an accountant just because you have a calculator?
For those of you who are very ‘anti-AI’, think of this way: AI can be your faithful little helper if you work with it and not against it! As stated above, its value lies in its remarkable ability to automate routine tasks and data analysis, freeing up your work schedule to focus on other things! Want to see an example? Be sure to read our first ever AI blog, how OpenAI can make you work smarter not harder.
What does a Personal Assistant do?
A Personal Assistant offers administrative, organisational, and personal support to businesses and individuals, handling tasks including:
- Scheduling
- Email Management
- Travel Arrangements
- Other Daily Responsibilities
To learn more about PA jobs and what Bain and Gray can do for you, visit: www.bainandgray.com/job-search/pa-jobs-london.
Personal Assistants adapt their role to suit the preferences and needs of their employer, working closely with them to provide tailored services that save time, money, and stress.
Personal Assistants embracing AI
Personal Assistants are highly unlikely to be replaced by AI, but you can win bonus points with your boss should you consider its integration into your job with relevant automation capabilities. This is the time to turn your focus away from the anxiety you have around displacement and consider how it can make your day-to-day tasks more effective. It could potentially transform the way your organisation operates!
AI can assist you with:
- Scheduling
- Reminders
- Basic information retrieval
However, it will never replace the human touch! Your ability to understand the context of a situation, build relationships, and adapt to unpredictable situation will always give an edge that AI lacks. To add more value to your current role, click here.
What does an Executive Assistant do?
Before we delve into this one, take a quick read of one of our most popular blogs: www.bainandgray.com/blog/ea-vs-pa.
Executive Assistants primarily serve high-level executives like CEO’s or Board Members, managing their schedules, handling correspondence, and coordinating complex tasks to ensure the seamless function of a day-to-day executive suite. Additional tasks include:
- Building relationships
- Managing stakeholder interactions
- Bring the first point of contact for external stakeholders.
An Executive Assistant’s ability to build trust and rapport is critical in successfully ensuring business relationships.
Executive Assistants embracing AI
Similar to a Personal Assistant, AI can never replace the nuanced understanding and intuition of a great Executive Assistant! AI is very far away from anticipating an executive’s needs whilst drawing from a deep knowledge of an organisation and its dynamics.
AI can assist you with:
- Scheduling
- Email Management
- Data Analysis
While AI enhances efficiency, the human touch EAs bring, including relationship-building and strategic insight, remains irreplaceable in driving executive success.
Summary
AI may streamline some aspects of your job, allowing you to focus on higher-value tasks that require human judgment, critical thinking, and creativity. Embracing AI as a tool to enhance your productivity rather than seeing it as a threat could lead to a more efficient and fulfilling work experience. Additionally, your ability to build relationships, understand the nuances of your executive's preferences, and provide personalized support is something that AI cannot replicate entirely.
- AI's presence is pervasive, but it lacks human traits like instinct, common sense, and creativity.
- Personal Assistants embracing AI can leverage its automation capabilities while retaining the human touch in their work.
- While AI enhances efficiency, the human touch of Executive Assistants, including relationship-building and strategic insight, remains invaluable.
