Executives are increasingly turning to AI not as a novelty, but as a productivity multiplier. From automating routine tasks to summarising complex data, AI is reshaping how leaders spend their time—and how their support teams operate.
Productivity Gains Through AI Assistants
Executive assistants (EAs) are leading the charge. A recent survey of administrative professionals finds that 93% of top EAs are exploring AI in their work. Popular applications include drafting emails and messages, which 86% of EAs report using ChatGPT for, and scheduling or travel automation, adopted by 25% using AI travel planners.
The impact is tangible. Buckinghamshire Council reports that its EAs save an average of 25 hours per month using Microsoft 365 Copilot for writing and scheduling tasks. Research from MIT suggests that generative AI can speed writing-related work by roughly 40% and coding by 56%. Applied to executive workflows—emails, reports, presentations—these gains translate directly into time for strategic thinking.
Embedding AI Into the Enterprise
Corporate adoption is accelerating. ChatGPT reached 700 million weekly active users by mid-2025, with many organisations standardising its use alongside single sign-on and data protections. Microsoft’s Copilot for Office 365 is being piloted by firms like Goldman Sachs and local councils, automating document summarisation and data analysis. AI-powered meeting tools such as Otter, Fireflies, and Gong record and summarise meetings, while AI scheduling assistants like Clara and x.ai autonomously manage calendars.
Security and Compliance Remain Key
Executives handle sensitive information, so enterprises are prioritising secure, enterprise-grade AI solutions. OpenAI and Azure provide privacy controls, while some organisations adopt on-premise or sovereign AI models to ensure full confidentiality.
Frameworks for Adoption
Many organisations follow a phased rollout. They start with low-hanging fruit—email drafting, summarisation—then extend AI to CRM, analytics, and workflow automation. Gartner’s hyperautomation framework highlights the synergy of combining AI, RPA, and workflow tools to reengineer processes end-to-end.
Lessons From Case Studies
Buckinghamshire Council’s EAs reported that automating writing, scheduling, and data lookup freed 25 hours per month, allowing them to focus on communications, stakeholder management, and higher-value work. Salesforce uses Einstein Copilot in Slack and its CRM to summarise customer data for executives, though leaders stress that the final decisions remain human. Harvard Business Review notes that generative AI can speed writing by 40%, improving output quality while giving time back for creative and strategic tasks.
Expert Insights
Gartner predicts that by 2025, 80% of data analytics will be generated by AI rather than humans, fundamentally shifting executive workflows. Deloitte observes that leaders using AI tools report faster decisions and better work-life balance, but caution that inaccurate output, data leakage, and change management are key risks. Top EAs are 42% more likely than others to deploy AI, and 92% are excited about automating routine work to focus on strategic support.
Takeaway for Business Leaders
Empower Executives with AI: Provide enterprise-grade AI productivity tools and training for both executives and their assistants.
Reinvent Support Roles: Redefine EAs around relationship-building, project leadership, and change facilitation as AI handles routine tasks.
Governance Matters: Establish secure practices for AI usage and define what information can be shared.
Measure Impact: Track hours saved, faster decision-making, and ROI. Share success stories across the organisation.
Executives who embrace AI as a productivity partner—not just a novelty—unlock time for strategy, leadership, and innovation. In this new era, AI tools are transforming not only how leaders work, but how the teams that support them contribute to enterprise success.