When you are considering how to apply AI in your work it helps to about it through three lenses: automation, augmentation, and autonomy.

Each lens frames how you use AI in your work. This approach gives you a lot of flexibility when considering which lens to use for each job.

Having worked with dozens of entrepreneurs, freelancers, and professionals learning to use AI, the ones who see the most success are very good at understanding and applying these lenses.

Automation: Delegating the Routine

Automation is often misunderstood. It’s not just about delegating tasks to the computer; it's about finding opportunities where less human intervention increases impact through enhanced efficiency, accuracy, and consistency.

Think of it as having a digital assistant that handles tedious tasks, allowing you to focus on what truly matters. Here are some examples:

• Content Scheduling 📆

  • Automatically post content to social media at optimal times using tools like Buffer or Hootsuite.

  • Benefit: Ensures consistent engagement without manual effort.

• Email Management 📧

  • Use AI to filter, categorize, and respond to basic inquiries.

  • Benefit: Keeps your inbox organized and prioritizes essential communications.

• Invoice Generation 🧾

  • Create and send invoices automatically with QuickBooks or FreshBooks.

  • Benefit: Reduces errors and speeds up payment cycles.

• Customer Service Chatbots 🤖

  • Handle initial customer queries with chatbots.

  • Benefit: Frees up human agents for complex issues and improves response times.

To identify tasks that are suitable for automation ask yourself: Which tasks can I fully delegate without losing sleep?

Consider:

1. Time Savings: Where can I free up time for strategic initiatives?

2. Consistency: How can I ensure consistent results by automating routine tasks?

3. Cost Efficiency: Where can I reduce the need for additional staff time?

Augmentation: Enhancing Human Capabilities

Augmentation is my favorite lens to discuss because this is where AI truly becomes a superpower. Rather than replacing human effort, it amplifies it by assisting you in performing tasks more efficiently and effectively. By collaborating with AI, you can unlock new levels of productivity and innovation. Examples of augmentation:

• Design Assistance 🎨

  • Using AI tools like Adobe Sensei or Relume’s AI-based site mapping to generate quick mockups or suggest design elements.

  • Benefit: Accelerates the creative process by providing instant design options.

• Data Analysis 📊

  • Employing AI tools like Rows.com to interpret vast amounts of data.

  • Benefit: Reveals market trends or customer insights that inform strategic decisions.

• Writing Aid ✍️

  • Utilizing AI-powered editors like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor to suggest better phrasing or check for grammatical errors.

  • Benefit: Enhances the quality of your writing by improving clarity and correctness.

• Research Support 🔍

  • Quickly gathering and summarizing information from multiple sources using tools like Elicit or Perplexity.ai.

  • Benefit: Informs your projects and proposals with comprehensive data.

To identify augmentation tasks ask yourself “Where can AI help me amplify my capabilities to produce output more effectively?” Focus on tasks that would benefit from:

1. Enhanced Productivity

   • Question: Where can I accomplish more in less time without sacrificing quality?

   • Example: Using AI to automate initial data analysis allows you to focus on interpreting results.

2. Improved Decision-Making

   • Question: How can having access to a "thought partner" improve my decision-making and strategy?

   • Note: AI can provide insights or alternative perspectives you might not have considered.

3. Skill Development

   • Question: Where can a "knowledge translator" help me improve my capabilities?

   • Example: AI tools can help you learn new skills or understand complex topics more easily.

Autonomy: Embracing the Human Touch

When I teach workshops or work with individuals curious about AI, the most common question I receive is, “How do I do this without losing what makes me—me?” That's where autonomy comes in.

Autonomy is about recognizing and preserving the areas where human intuition, creativity, and emotional intelligence are irreplaceable. While AI can simulate certain aspects of human interaction, it cannot replicate the depth of human experience and understanding. Examples include

• Creative Direction 🎨

  • Making final design decisions that require a nuanced understanding of the client's vision and emotional subtleties.

  • Benefit: Ensures the output aligns perfectly with the client's unique needs and emotional context.

• Client Relationships 🤝

  • Building and maintaining relationships through personal interaction, empathy, and trust-building activities.

  • Benefit: Fosters deeper connections and long-term partnerships.

• Strategic Planning 🧭

  • Crafting long-term strategies based on a blend of data, experience, and intuition that AI cannot replicate.

  • Benefit: Creates innovative solutions tailored to specific challenges and opportunities.

• Ethical Decision-Making ⚖️

  • Navigating complex situations that require moral judgments, cultural understanding, and ethical considerations.

  • Benefit: Ensures decisions are aligned with values and societal norms.

To identify autonomy tasks Ask yourself: Where are human qualities essential? Focus on tasks where maintaining human qualities is crucial to the output.

Consider the following factors:

1. Authenticity

   • Question: Where do I need to maintain the unique voice and vision that sets my work apart?

   • Example: Crafting original content that reflects personal style and brand identity.

2. Trust Building

   • Question: Where do I need to foster deeper connections with clients and audiences?

   • Example: Personalized client consultations and responsive customer service.

3. Innovation

   • Question: Where do I need to use emotional intelligence to generate breakthrough ideas?

   • Example: Collaborative brainstorming sessions that leverage team dynamics.

Applying the Three Lenses: A Real-World Example

Meet Heather, a 32-year-old creative director and brand strategist running her own freelance business. She's tech-savvy and intrigued by AI but cautious about maintaining her human-centric approach.

1. Automation for Heather

• Invoice Management 🧾

  • Automates creation and sending of invoices.

• Email Filtering 📥

  • Uses AI to prioritize emails.

• Social Media Scheduling 📅

  • Schedules posts to maintain an active online presence.

2. Augmentation for Heather

• AI-Powered Design Tools 🎨

  • Generates initial concepts and variations.

• Market Analysis 📈

  • Analyzes client markets with AI for data-driven insights.

• Content Creation Assistance ✍️

  • Employs AI to draft outlines or suggest copy.

3. Autonomy for Heather

• Client Consultations 🤝

  • Personally engages to understand unique needs.

• Final Design Decisions 🖌️

  • Applies creative intuition for impactful designs.

• Mentorship 🌟

  • Guides and inspires her team and community.

3. To Find the Right Balance Heather:

• Automates routine tasks to save time.

• Augments her creative process without losing her unique touch.

• Maintains autonomy in client interactions and critical decisions.

Conclusion

As AI continues to evolve, viewing it through the lenses of automation, augmentation, and autonomy becomes increasingly important. The most successful individuals and companies won't just use AI; they'll use it wisely. They'll automate the mundane, augment their strengths, and fiercely guard their uniquely human capabilities.

In the end, AI is just a tool—a powerful one, certainly, but its value comes from how skillfully it's wielded. So, consider your own work and ask yourself:

• Automation 🤖

  • What tasks can I delegate to AI to save time and resources?

• Augmentation 🚀

  • How can AI enhance my existing skills and amplify my output?

• Autonomy ❤️

  • Where should I preserve the human touch to maintain authenticity and build deeper connections?

By thoughtfully applying these three lenses, you can unlock new levels of efficiency, creativity, and impact in your work.