Why AI Isn’t Going to Replace Executive Assistants (But It Can Empower Us)
I’ve never been someone who bought into the hype that AI was going to come in and take over the Executive Assistant role. Sure, there’s no denying that AI has been weaponized in some ways, leading to job losses across industries, but this isn’t a new story. We’ve seen this happen before, and it didn’t suddenly wipe out entire job markets.
Now, almost two years since the release of ChatGPT, we have more data to work with on how AI will—and won’t—impact the Executive Assistant role. Spoiler alert: it’s not as dramatic as the fearmongers would have you believe.
Let’s start with the most common question I get from both executive assistants and small business owners alike: "Can AI help with the expense process?" The short answer: not really. Yes, there are AI-powered solutions out there, and yes, I’ve tried them. Several of my small business-owning peers have too. The consensus? They’re not great. These tools are supposed to recognize receipts and automatically categorize expenses, but in practice, they often get it wrong. I still find myself manually updating them every month. If AI can’t even handle my expense reports, it’s safe to say it’s not going to take over the role anytime soon.
Then there’s transcription. This is one area where AI has actually been helpful—for the most part. I love being able to stay on top of action items after a meeting without having to scribble down every word. But here’s the thing: who ensures those action items are actually gathered and distributed? Who’s the human in the loop? Spoiler: it’s still me. I still have to go through the transcript, pull out key points, and make sure the team knows what’s next. AI isn’t doing that. And let’s not even get into the privacy concerns that come up when using transcription tools. It’s made a lot of us rethink how we use these tools and what data we’re willing to put out there.
Scheduling is another area where AI hasn’t lived up to the hype. Microsoft Copilot, for example, hasn’t been the game-changer I hoped it would be. I’m a one-person company, so it’s possible I’m not using its full capabilities, but it just doesn’t seem to make a meaningful difference in managing calendars or scheduling. At least, not yet.
Where AI does shine is in data gathering, research, and giving me a broader view of the big picture. This is where it helps me the most. I’ve always said the real power of AI isn’t in automating my role, but in empowering me to perform it better. AI helps me feel more confident by giving me faster access to information, allowing me to think more strategically. It doesn’t replace the human touch; it enhances it by helping me build the structure I need for success.
Want to Dive Deeper into How AI Can Empower You as an Admin?
If you’re interested in learning how to use AI to streamline your daily tasks, boost your productivity, and work smarter—not harder—then join me for my upcoming AI for Admins course! In this course, I’ll be walking you through the exact ways you can leverage AI tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and more, to enhance your workflow, not replace you.
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