15 Types of Tasks Where AI Can Be Most Useful | Cooley LLP

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the landscape of work across various industries, carving out its niche in tasks that, until recently, seemed to require unmistakable human touch. In a compelling newsletter by Ethan Mollick from One Useful Thing, he outlines 15 types of tasks where AI can be particularly advantageous. Here, we’ll delve into those classifications and explore how AI can seamlessly enhance our productivity, creativity, and overall effectiveness in our professional lives.

### 1. Generating Ideas in Bulk

Creative brainstorming can often stagnate when we exhaust our mental resources. AI excels in environments where quantity often leads to quality, thus removing the creative barriers we face. For example, during a brainstorming session, while individuals may struggle to generate beyond a handful of ideas, AI can offer hundreds of unique concepts. This unrestricted flow of ideas can catalyze innovative thinking and facilitate the selection of the most promising alternatives.

### 2. Expert Evaluation of AI Output

When engaging in intricate tasks of a specialized nature, your expertise becomes pivotal in determining the effectiveness of AI-generated results. Here, AI merely serves as an assistant, providing outputs that experts can quickly evaluate. As specialists, individuals are well-equipped to discern the value of these outputs, using their judgment to steer the direction of projects efficiently.

### 3. Summarizing Large Information Sets

Navigating through extensive information can often feel overwhelming, particularly when detailed knowledge is not required. AI’s proficiency in summarizing lengthy documents or research papers makes it ideal for extracting vital information without the burden of meticulous fact-checking. This application enables professionals to harness vast amounts of information efficiently and focus on what truly matters.

### 4. Translating Perspectives

Organizations often need to communicate policies and guidelines tailored to specific audiences. This is where AI’s ability to modify the complexity of documents shines. It can effortlessly transform intricate policies into easily digestible content for diverse teams, ensuring that everyone remains on the same page.

### 5. Maintaining Progress

Writer’s block can hinder productivity, yet AI can provide the necessary nudge to keep creativity flowing. With the ability to generate multiple variations of a sentence or idea, AI helps overcome moments of stagnation, allowing individuals to push forward in their writing rather than abandon their work in frustration.

### 6. Situations Beneath Human Capability

In certain areas where AI’s performance surpasses that of the most skilled humans, it’s particularly useful. These aspects should involve low-risk scenarios where AI’s errors will not have significant repercussions. By harnessing AI’s capabilities in these contexts, individuals can achieve higher quality outputs without fear of negative outcomes.

### 7. Contextual Assistance in Understanding

Many workers can manage various aspects of their jobs but may need more detailed context or background information. Using AI as a companion offers a unique opportunity to ask questions and deepen understanding without the anxiety of feeling overwhelmed by the volume of information presented.

### 8. Seeking Variance in Solutions

When tasked with creating various interpretations of a concept or idea, seeking AI-generated alternatives can be a game-changer. By requesting several adjustments or rewrites, individuals can cultivate a rich pool of ideas, enabling editors and curators to select options that stand out or resonate most with their audience.

### 9. Supporting Technical Tasks

AI is particularly effective in coding and other technical endeavors. Research has demonstrated its ability to enhance productivity in these areas, making AI an essential tool for tech-savvy professionals looking to streamline their efforts.

### 10. Assessing Audience Reactions

AI can simulate the perspectives of various audiences, aiding in understanding how different recipients may interpret or react to a given piece of content. By estimating these responses, individuals can tailor their messaging more effectively, ensuring that it reaches the intended audience.

### 11. Entrepreneurial Assistance

Entrepreneurship often involves navigating uncharted territory, where an individual’s expertise may not cover every necessary discipline. In such cases, AI can act as a valuable co-founder, helping create documents, presentations, and other essential materials while simultaneously providing basic mentorship across diverse fields.

### 12. Perspective Simulation

When needing to evaluate information from particular viewpoints, AI can provide simulated responses from fictional personas or potential stakeholders. This process offers invaluable insights that assist in anticipating various reactions to a particular strategy, product, or message.

### 13. Reducing Redundant Tasks

There are tasks within many organizations that serve little purpose yet consume time and energy. By utilizing AI to manage or execute these ritualistic duties—like automated reports that often go unread—professionals can reclaim valuable hours for more meaningful work.

### 14. Seeking Second Opinions

AI can serve as a reliable sounding board, providing alternate analyses based on available data. This gives individuals the opportunity to cross-reference their conclusions with AI-generated perspectives, potentially revealing blind spots or affirming their original viewpoints.

### 15. Superior Performance Beyond Humans

As AI technology continues to progress, it is increasingly likely to outperform human capabilities in various tasks, particularly repetitive or data-heavy operations. This burgeoning category of work is where AI can truly shine, presenting an opportunity for businesses to optimize operations.

### Conclusion

AI is evolving into a profound ally within the professional landscape, offering unprecedented capabilities that can enhance efficiency, creativity, and productivity. By integrating AI into these 15 types of tasks, individuals and organizations can unlock a treasure trove of opportunities, paving the way for innovative solutions and streamlined workflows. Embracing AI is not merely about automating processes; it’s about transforming the way we work, think, and create. As we move forward, understanding and leveraging AI’s strengths will be crucial to staying competitive in an ever-changing world.

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