Automation. It’s one of those buzzwords that either fills you with excitement or dread, depending on your perspective. For me, the idea of handing off routine tasks to AI felt thrilling.
But when I actually took the leap and automated about 80% of my workload using ChatGPT, I wasn’t sure what would happen next. Would I suddenly become redundant? Would my boss catch on immediately and accuse me of cheating my way through my job?
The truth was surprising.
How did I start this experiment?
A few months ago, I found myself buried under repetitive tasks: drafting emails, scheduling social media posts, conducting initial research for articles, and responding to generic reader questions. It wasn’t intellectually challenging, and I felt like I was spending far too much time on activities that didn’t make the best use of my skills.
That’s when I came across ChatGPT. I had already heard plenty about how AI could take on mundane tasks, but could it really handle my work effectively?
I started small, cautiously testing the waters by automating email responses and basic article research. Quickly, I became hooked. Tasks that once consumed hours each week were suddenly completed in minutes.
What did my boss first notice?
You might assume my boss would notice immediately, right? Not exactly.
Initially, what stood out wasn’t the automation itself but rather my increased productivity. “Claire, you’re on a roll lately,” she commented during our weekly catch-up. She attributed this to increased motivation or perhaps more effective time management. There wasn’t even a hint of suspicion about AI involvement.
Instead of scrutinizing my methods, she simply noticed I was turning around assignments faster and with fewer mistakes. If anything, my improved accuracy and productivity led her to assign me higher-profile projects.
Did the quality of my work change?
One of my concerns was whether automating tasks would affect the quality of my work. Would relying on an AI diminish the depth of my research or creativity in my writing?
Surprisingly, the opposite happened. With routine tasks offloaded, I found more energy and time for deeper, more meaningful analysis. My pieces became richer, more insightful, and more engaging—exactly what readers valued most.
A recent study supports this. Researchers found that workers who automate repetitive tasks often experience significant gains in creativity and critical thinking. I can absolutely confirm this was true in my experience.
Did my boss eventually catch on?
Yes and no. While she didn’t specifically identify that I was using ChatGPT, she did notice a distinct shift in how I managed my workflow.
About two months in, she finally asked, “Claire, you’ve been consistently ahead of deadlines and your work is excellent—what’s your secret?”
At that moment, I decided to be transparent. “I’ve automated some routine parts of my workflow,” I confessed, bracing for her reaction. Instead of alarm, she was intrigued. She asked me to demonstrate how I was using the technology, genuinely impressed by the possibilities.
How did my colleagues respond?
Interestingly, colleagues were more curious than cautious. Word spread quickly, and soon enough, I was running informal workshops showing others how ChatGPT could streamline their workflow.
However, a few colleagues remained skeptical, worried automation might lead to job losses. This reaction is understandable; a 2023 McKinsey report highlighted that about 30% of tasks across industries could be automated by current technology. But what my colleagues and I discovered was less about job replacement and more about job enhancement.
Rather than AI taking our roles, it freed us to focus on tasks that genuinely required human insight, creativity, and empathy—skills that ChatGPT simply couldn’t replicate fully.
What about my job satisfaction?
My experiment didn’t just alter my productivity—it positively impacted my overall job satisfaction. With mundane tasks minimized, I felt more enthusiastic about my work and experienced less burnout.
It turns out automation isn’t merely a way to save time; it’s also about preserving mental energy. With fewer repetitive tasks, I had the space to engage more deeply and meaningfully with my work.
Final thoughts
Before I go, here’s what I’ve learned from automating the majority of my job: transparency and adaptability matter. Automation isn’t about hiding behind AI to get work done quietly—it’s about embracing tools that let us excel at the parts of our jobs that truly matter.
My boss didn’t penalize me for my automation experiment. Instead, she recognized it as innovation, praising the improved outcomes. As workplaces continue evolving, embracing tools like ChatGPT doesn’t mean replacing people—it means allowing them to thrive.
