Two Simple Questions That Unlock the Real Value of AI at Work

Artificial intelligence often feels like a big, complicated topic, especially when it’s introduced into an organization. But the truth is, the most valuable way to start thinking about AI doesn’t have to be complex or technical. It begins with two straightforward questions that anyone can ask themselves or their teams: “If you had an assistant, what tasks would you give them immediately?” and “What’s the most boring or repetitive part of your job?”

These simple questions cut through the noise and hype around AI by focusing on what really matters in daily work. They don’t ask how to replace people or automate for automation’s sake. Instead, they invite us to consider where AI can genuinely complement human effort. And that’s a crucial distinction because AI isn’t magic. It doesn’t create value by working in isolation from the people who do the work. Its power lies in augmenting human judgment and freeing people from the tedious, repetitive parts of their roles.

In both small businesses and large enterprises, these questions surface practical, down-to-earth opportunities. For example, many jobs include routine data entry, scheduling, or filtering through endless emails. These are tasks that don’t require a lot of creative thought but consume a surprising amount of time and energy. When employees reflect honestly on what they would hand off to an assistant, it often reveals where AI could step in to help without disrupting the core of their work.

But these questions do more than just highlight places for automation. They also remind us that AI design must respect the expertise and experience of the people using it. AI tools built without that respect tend to fail because they don’t fit how work actually happens. When AI is designed alongside employees, it transforms from a source of anxiety into a trusted partner. People feel supported rather than replaced.

Seeing your own daily routine through the lens of these two questions can be surprisingly enlightening. You might notice tasks you assumed were just part of the job that could actually be handed off easily. Or you might identify responsibilities you want to keep because they demand thoughtful human insight. Both discoveries are valuable because they shape what sustainable AI integration looks like. It’s about balance, not total automation.

For example, consider a manager who spends hours every week compiling reports from multiple systems. If asked what they would give to an assistant, they might say “all those status updates and data pulls.” That clearly points to AI helping with data aggregation and routine reporting. At the same time, the manager may recognize that analyzing trends and having strategic conversations cannot be handed off. This approach clarifies where AI supports the human, rather than competes with them.

This kind of reflection also builds trust. When people see that AI is deployed thoughtfully, addressing real pain points rather than forcing wholesale change, they are more open to adopting it. Organizations that start from these questions create AI partnerships that reduce burnout and promote long-term growth, rather than short-term buzz.

So, take a moment to ask yourself and your team: What repetitive task would you hand off to an assistant without hesitation? What does that tell you about the AI your organization actually needs? Starting here grounds AI implementation in human experience and helps build a future where technology serves people, not the other way around.

That kind of partnership between leadership, technology, and human systems is the heart of sustainable growth and meaningful innovation. It is less about rushing to automate and more about creating space for people to do their best work. And every organization can start this journey with just two simple questions.