Synopsis
Founders often struggle with scattered work, not just workload. AI acts as a virtual operator, transforming scattered inputs into actionable insights. By providing structured summaries and clear next steps, AI reduces friction, offering founders greater control and more time for compounding work.Most founders don’t run out of hours because the work is hard. They run out of hours because the work is scattered. That’s where AI has become a real operating advantage for me, not because it “does my job”, but because it reduces the friction between signal and action.
Every morning, an agent scans what’s come in and gives me a structured summary of what matters to the business. The difference is that I’m no longer reacting to whoever emailed last. I’m seeing priorities grouped by impact: finance, customer escalations, legal, execution dependencies. Meetings have also changed. The meeting stops being an event and becomes an output—a set of clear next steps with accountability. Over time, AI has shifted from ‘tool’ to ‘virtual operator’—proactive and running in the background. The real benefit isn’t convenience. It’s control: cleaner inputs, fewer blind spots, and more time spent on work that compounds.
The prompts I use most often
Inbox Operating Summary
“Scan my inbox and summarise:
1. Urgent items,
2. Approval lags
3. Follow-ups
4. Categorise & suggest actions.”
Decision Queue
“From today’s messages, list the top 5 decisions only I should make. For each: context, risks, and recommended action.”
Update Collector
“Message owner for today’s update in this format: progress, blockers, next 24 hours, dependencies. Summarise and flag risks.”
MoM to Execution
“Convert this transcript into: key decisions, action items, owners, deadlines, and follow-up messages. Keep it crisp, execution-ready.”
The author is cofounder & chief technology officer at Tagbin
Disclaimer: This column is for general information and does not constitute advice; readers acting on it do so at their own risk.
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(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.)
