AI Agent & Copilot Podcast: Is AI Really Saving Us Time?

In this episode of the AI Agent & Copilot Podcast, Shawn Dorward questions whether AI is actually saving a net impact of time or if it’s merely repurposing that time.

Key Takeaways

• Reprioritized time: AI has been doing great things like summarizing emails, taking notes, cleaning up data, and drafting content, for instance. However, Shawn clarifies, “It’s not eliminating work or reducing the amount of time that I’m spending at my desk. I think it just rearranges it or maybe reprioritizes it.” Now, he’s spending time writing better prompts for more effective AI usage, reviewing AI outputs, and explaining to teams what AI is accomplishing. More time is being spent on “cognitive labor” and Copilot tuning. AI needs to be evaluated, refined, and defined. There’s constant decision-making, context switching, and validating.
• The need for the human element: The customer service industry has incorporated AI to help speed through support tickets and summarize them. While that’s useful, they’re having to double-check tone to ensure it sounds human and has accurate responses. More time is being spent training team members on AI to identify hallucinations and flagging errors, adding another layer to processes. Despite accelerating some tasks, the human touch is still needed.
• Same outcome, different approach: Marketing is another area where AI is commonly used. It has been applied to draft copy, brainstorming, and building out campaigns. Rather than saving net positive time, it has kicked off more review cycles. “Although we’re getting the same amount of time, perhaps in completing the task, but the work we’re doing is different, and I think that’s key,” Shawn explains. “Maybe not saving time is the priority, but being able to do bigger and better things is the priority.”
• Measuring success: As you evaluate AI and Copilot for your organization, is it saving time, or are we doing things differently and empowering people in a different way? This is a critical consideration for leaders. If your team is busier after adding AI, that doesn’t mean they’re failing. AI is not plug-and-play productivity; it’s a tool that has to be learned and a whole new way of thinking. Leaders must rethink how to measure output or success. Leaders must consider redesigning roles and expectations for these types of responsibilities.
• Community Summit: With hundreds of sessions covering the Dynamics ecosystem, including Microsoft Copilot, Community Summit North America is being held on October 19-23 in Orlando, Florida. Shawn will be presenting at the event and sharing insights from his experiences.