Are AI assistants actually any good?
Author: Laurence Glen | Date published: March, 28, 2025, UK | Read est: 5 min read
Let’s face it—work isn’t just about doing your job anymore. It’s about answering endless emails, rescheduling meetings (again), taking notes, writing reports, and remembering to wish Mark from HR a happy birthday. But what if you could offload all that admin work to an AI assistant and actually focus on what you were hired to do?
Welcome to the era of AI assistants—digital helpers designed to take care of the boring stuff so you don’t have to. From managing your schedule to drafting emails, these smart tools are transforming the way we work. Here’s how they can streamline your day and give you your brain back.
What is an AI assistant? (And why do you need one?)
An AI assistant is a digital tool that automates repetitive tasks, learns from your habits, and helps keep your workday on track. This is especially revolutionary for entry and mid-level employees, who might not have the luxury of hiring their own assistant (though you’ll still have to make your own coffee).
These AI-powered helpers come in many forms, from voice-activated assistants like Siri and Alexa to smart software tools like Microsoft Copilot, Google Assistant, and ChatGPT. Their main goal? To simplify your workload and boost productivity by handling the time-consuming tasks that get in the way of real work.
Why Every Professional Needs an AI Assistant
- Saves Time: AI assistants reduce the hours spent on admin work, freeing up more time for strategic thinking and creative problem-solving.
- Boosts Productivity: Automating small but necessary tasks means you can focus on high-impact work without distractions.
- Reduces Errors: AI can minimize scheduling conflicts, ensure email accuracy, and streamline communication, reducing human mistakes.
- Supports Work-Life Balance: With AI handling the small stuff, you spend less time on after-hours admin and more time on the things that matter—like relaxing after work!
Meet your AI dream team
AI Scheduling Assistant
Examples: Microsoft Copilot, x.ai, Google Calendar AI, Microsoft Outlook Scheduler
How it helps:
- Automatically finds the best meeting times (no more email ping-pong).
- Syncs with calendars across teams.
- Sends polite but firm reminders when someone forgets to reply.
AI Email Assistant
Examples: Microsoft Copilot, Gmail Smart Compose, Superhuman AI
How it helps:
- Writes emails in your tone of voice.
- Prioritises urgent messages, so you don’t miss the important stuff.
- Auto-suggests responses, meaning you can reply to emails in seconds.
AI Writing Assistant
Examples: Grammarly, Jasper AI, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot
How it helps:
- Proofreads and polishes your writing.
- Summarises long reports so you don’t have to read them all.
- Generates content for emails, reports, and presentations.
AI Meeting Assistant
Examples: Otter.ai, Fireflies.ai, Sembly AI, Microsoft Copilot
How it helps:
- Records and transcribes meetings in real time.
- Highlights key decisions and action points.
- Integrates with Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet.
AI Task & Project Management Assistant
Examples: Trello AI, Asana AI, ClickUp AI, Microsoft Copilot
How it helps:
- Assigns tasks based on workload and deadlines.
- Sends reminders so nothing falls through the cracks.
- Predicts bottlenecks before they happen.
One tool to rule them all: Microsoft Copilot
While individual AI assistants excel in specific areas, Microsoft Copilot is a powerhouse that combines all these capabilities into one seamless tool. Whether you need to schedule meetings, draft emails, summarize reports, or automate workflows, Copilot integrates with Microsoft 365 apps to streamline your entire workday. Think of it as your all-in-one AI co-worker—minus the holiday requests.
The real-world impact of AI assistants
- Employees spend 28% of their workweek on emails—AI email assistants can cut this time in half, saving over 11 hours per employee per week.
- AI scheduling assistants reduce time spent coordinating meetings by 80%, allowing teams to focus on strategy rather than logistics.
- Companies using AI assistants report up to 40% increased efficiency, meaning faster decision-making and more productive teams.
- Businesses that automate routine tasks with AI can reduce operational costs by up to 30%, thanks to fewer human errors and increased efficiency.
- 87% of executives believe AI will enhance, rather than replace, human jobs, enabling workers to focus on higher-value tasks.
Let AI handle the boring stuff
AI assistants aren’t here to replace jobs—they’re here to eliminate the mind-numbing tasks that keep you from doing what really matters. Whether you need to manage your inbox, schedule meetings, or just sound a little more polished in emails, there’s an AI tool that can help.
And if you want a single, powerful AI assistant that does it all, Microsoft Copilot is your go-to. It seamlessly integrates with your workflow, making work life smoother, smarter, and a whole lot less stressful.
So get in touch with our team today to find out more about how we can integrate Copilot seamlessly into your company.
Laurence Glen
IT Director
Our IT world, together with the ongoing development of this business-critical portfolio of services, is in very capable hands with Laurence at the helm. IBM-trained and with a 22-year track record of proven success in the IT sector ensures Laurence is perfectly placed to lead the overall IT strategy for Focus Group, ensuring we’re at the forefront of product development and service innovations in order to deliver the best possible IT technologies for our customers.
