8 often-overlooked options to automate common tasks with AI

There are many ways to automate tasks with AI that people often overlook. Here are some interesting and underutilized options:

1. Email and communication automation

• Smart summarization: Use AI to summarize long emails or documents.
• Auto-reply and drafting: AI can generate replies based on context (e.g., Gmail’s Smart Reply on steroids).
• Voice note transcription and categorization: Automatically transcribe and sort voice notes into text documents or to-do lists.

2. Meeting and scheduling automation

• AI meeting notes: Tools like Otter.ai or Fireflies.ai can transcribe and highlight key points from meetings.
• AI-powered scheduling: AI assistants like Reclaim.ai can block time for deep work automatically based on calendar patterns.
• Meeting summaries and action items: AI can extract tasks from conversations and add them to project management tools.

3. Personal productivity and organization

• Automated knowledge management: AI can organize research, highlight key points, and even generate flashcards from notes.
• Smart task prioritization: AI can analyze past tasks and habits to suggest what to tackle next.
• Context-aware reminders: Instead of generic reminders, AI can suggest follow-ups based on past interactions.

4. AI-powered code and development automation

• AI code reviews and debugging: AI tools like GitHub Copilot and Codeium can suggest fixes and improvements.
• Automated API documentation: AI can generate or update API documentation based on code changes.
• Script automation for repetitive tasks: AI-generated scripts can automate frequent workflows, like renaming files or data processing.

5. Finance and budgeting automation

• Expense categorization: AI can classify expenses automatically and flag anomalies.
• Invoice and receipt processing: AI can extract data from invoices and match them with transactions.
• Automated budgeting and forecasting: AI can analyze spending patterns and suggest savings opportunities.

6. AI-enhanced Content Creation & Editing

• Automated video and podcast editing: AI tools like Descript can remove filler words and background noise.
• AI-powered writing enhancement: Beyond grammar checking, AI can rewrite content for clarity and tone.
• Image and design automation: AI tools like Canva’s Magic Resize can auto-adjust designs for different formats.

7. Smart home and personal life automation

• Energy optimization: AI can adjust heating/cooling based on your schedule and weather.
• AI-based meal planning: Tools like Whisk can suggest meals based on dietary preferences and available ingredients.
• Automated smart device coordination: AI can predict when to turn lights on/off based on habits.

8. Business process optimization

• Automated customer support: AI chatbots can resolve common issues before escalating to a human.
• AI-powered hiring assistance: AI can screen resumes and even schedule interviews based on candidate matches.
• Data entry and report generation: AI can pull data from various sources and generate reports automatically.