Axios C-Suite: Helping employees find purpose, not productivity, with AI

• When we talk "efficiency" or "productivity," our teams roll their eyes and see us as corporate overlords. They simply want to know a robot won't replace them or do what they do best for free.

The good news: For most people, AI will indeed do the boring, unsatisfying tasks or drudgery eating up much of their time. It's excellent at automating repeatable, labor-intensive tasks like tracking work, assembling and analyzing data or summarizing meetings and to-do lists.

The bad news: This is theoretical until they see it meaningfully improve their day. In the meantime, most just assume it makes the COMPANY more productive at their expense — or eats their job.

What CEOs can do: Be clear about how we're using AI company-wide, provide staff with AI access and training, and find ways to highlight or elevate lower-level employees who find clever ways to use AI to improve their work.

• Staff responds to stories, not words: At Axios, we use all-staff meetings to highlight various people internally finding creative ways to turn AI into a force multiplier. That, more than anything, eases anxiety and shows a more optimistic path.

📈 If you're a CEO or on a CEO's team: Ask to join Jim's new weekly Axios C-Suite newsletter.