María García Aznar

What does it mean to be an AI-augmented employee? For some time now, I’ve had a new colleague at work. They don’t have a desk or grab coffee with me, but they’re by my side in every meeting, every document, and every decision. I’m an AI-augmented employee. Being an AI-augmented employee means I now work with greater clarity, agility, and most importantly, focus. AI doesn’t do my job, it helps me do it better. It frees me from repetitive tasks, sparks ideas when I hit a mental block, and provides data that used to take me hours to collect. It’s not just about using isolated tools, but about building an intelligent environment where every employee works more strategically, supported by digital assistants that enhance our capabilities. In this diary, I want to share what a typical day looks like with AI as my constant copilot. Spoiler: I don’t want to go back. 9:00 – My day starts before I open my laptop While I sip my first coffee of the day, my AI assistant has already done a big chunk of the initial work. It scans my inbox, summarizes the important messages, and generates a priority agenda for the day. If there’s a document or report I need for a meeting, it’s already prepared—with key points highlighted, updated figures, and an executive summary I can read in under three minutes. It even suggests topics to cover in my follow-up meetings, based on recent team discussions and the latest project data. Before 9:00, I already have a clear view of my day and a proposed approach. And the best part? I didn’t need to open more than one window to get there. 10:00 – Create, decide and move forward with less effort During my peak focus hours—when I need to create, analyse or write—AI becomes a true co-pilot. As I work on a document, it suggests phrasing, improves my style, or even drafts content based on my notes. If I have to prepare a last-minute presentation, I feed in the key ideas and get a first draft design in seconds. And if I need to analyse data, there’s no fighting with formulas: I simply ask in plain language, and it returns tables, graphs, and even preliminary insights. It feels like having a second mind, always available, that understands what I need and delivers results. I still make decisions, but with far more information and far less effort. 12:00 – More human meetings, less draining Meetings aren’t what they used to be—and that’s a good thing. My assistant joins those too: it takes automatic notes, transcribes what’s said, pulls out the key points, and generates a summary of assigned tasks. If someone mentions a report or deadline, it gets highlighted. If I miss a moment, I can catch up in under a minute. Plus, if I have a meeting in English or with colleagues from other regions, AI translates everything in real time—subtitles and shared materials alike. This means I can focus on listening, thinking, and contributing, rather than scrambling to take notes or mentally translate. 16:00 – A creative boost In the afternoon, I set aside time to think, create and explore. This is where I feel the difference the most. AI tools help me generate ideas, structure a concept, or brainstorm solo in just a few minutes. Sometimes I just ask: “What angle could I use to present this to the operations team?” And I get three distinct options. They serve as a starting point, a creative spark. 18:00 – Wrapping up the day with perspective (and a little help) Before logging off, AI gives me a recap of what I’ve done, what’s still pending, and suggestions for tomorrow. It also recommends training or resources if it notices I’ve been focusing heavily on a certain topic. It’s a way to close the day with purpose—without that lingering “what did I even do today?” feeling we used to have. It’s even helped me improve my work habits: avoiding multitasking, delegating more, and prioritising better. Choosing the right tools matters too Not all AI solutions are created equal. Some stand out for offering well-sourced, up-to-date responses; others for seamless integration with productivity apps, or their expertise in specific tasks. I’m piloting various solutions, which let me work within a diverse ecosystem that combines accuracy, speed, transparency and security. That mix is incredibly valuable, as it adapts to different users and needs—from quick, well-referenced searches to deep task automation within corporate tools. But what’s been key to this process is the support I’ve received. Identifying the right use cases, receiving tailored training, and having the backing of a trusted partner like Telefónica Tech has made a huge difference. It’s not just about having access to powerful tools—it’s about knowing when, how, and why to use them. That guidance has accelerated adoption and turned experimentation into tangible outcomes. Even though we’re still in a gradual adoption phase, we’re already seeing clear signs of impact: Employees saving up to 90 minutes a week on repetitive tasks. Increased job satisfaction (+18%) A widespread sense that we now have more time to focus on what really adds value: thinking, deciding, and creating. Personally, I’ve noticed reduced digital fatigue and a better work-life balance, thanks to the drop in operational noise that used to unnecessarily extend my workday. AI is not only improving how we work, but also how we feel while working. And yes, we wrote this article together I’m not a writer. And even though I have plenty of ideas, I sometimes struggle to put them into words the way I imagine them. Finding the right tone, structuring my thoughts, making it sound clear yet natural… is not always easy. But this time, I had help. While writing these lines, my AI assistant was right there with me: suggesting approaches, rewording sentences, finding synonyms, even offering alternatives when I got stuck. It didn’t write for me—it empowered a skill I’m still developing. It helped me express myself with more confidence, more agility, and more intention. And that, ultimately, is what this is all about: growing as professionals with the support of tools that make us better. IA & Data Maximize your data's power with Generative AI: five key approaches February 5, 2025