How I Gained 2 Hours a Day with AI - Here's What I Do with That Time
People often ask how much time AI can save. I've reflected on my past year of using AI and compiled a list of areas where I've actually saved time, along with how I've utilized those extra hours.
People often ask me: "How much time can AI actually save?" Giving a vague number is meaningless, so I took some time to reflect on the past year, listing out all the ways AI has genuinely saved me time. The conclusion is: conservatively speaking, I gain around 2 extra hours every day. This article shares where I've saved time and, more importantly, how I utilize the saved time.
The Most Time-Saving Aspects of AI for Me
1. Getting started with writing is now faster. In the past, staring at a blank page was the biggest waste of time. Now, using ChatGPT or Claude to draft an outline, I've shifted from "creating" to "editing," saving a significant amount of time in the process.
2. Researching no longer requires opening ten tabs. To quickly grasp a topic, I use Perplexity to provide organized answers with sources, saving me from clicking through links and comparing information myself.
3. Repetitive tasks are now automated. Using Zapier to automate fixed tasks like reposting, notifications, and summaries saves me time that would be spent on these mechanical tasks.
4. Reading long documents is no longer necessary. For a report spanning dozens of pages, I use ChatPDF to ask for key points and extract what I need, which is much faster than reading the entire document.
5. Meetings no longer require note-taking. Using AI for meeting records allows me to focus on the discussion, and I receive a summary afterward.
How I Use My Saved 2 Hours
This is the crucial part. If saving time only means scrolling through your phone, then AI hasn't added much value to your life. I allocate my saved time into three areas:
- Deepening my expertise: I use the saved time to learn more challenging topics that AI cannot handle — this is my long-term competitive edge.
- Genuine interpersonal connections: I engage in meaningful conversations with clients and partners, building trust, which is something AI can never replace.
- Rest and life: Honestly, I also use it to rest properly. The purpose of efficiency shouldn't just be to cram in more work.
A Reminder: Saving Time Doesn't Equal Improvement
AI helps you "work faster," but speed doesn't equate to quality. I've seen people use AI to quickly produce a lot of mediocre work, increasing quantity but not quality. The saved time should be invested in making yourself irreplaceable, not in producing more mediocrity.
If you haven't started using AI to save time, I suggest beginning with the task that takes the most time and is most repetitive, and try out a tool. Once you experience the benefits, you won't go back. For further reading: After trying over a hundred AI tools, the ones that stayed in my workflow.
In a nutshell: AI saves me about 2 hours a day, but the key isn't how much time is saved, it's how the saved time is invested — in making yourself irreplaceable, not in producing more mediocrity.
Sources
Compiled from the editorial team's actual usage experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much time can AI save?
It varies from person to person, but after a year of using AI, I've gained around 2 extra hours a day, with significant time savings in starting writing projects, researching, automating tedious tasks, reading long documents, and taking meeting notes.
Where does AI save the most time?
AI is most helpful with getting started on writing projects (generating drafts), researching (with AI-powered search that includes sources), automating repetitive tasks, summarizing key points in long documents, and automatically recording meetings.
How should you use the time saved by AI?
Invest it in things that AI can't do - deepening your expertise, nurturing genuine relationships, and getting proper rest, rather than using it to produce more mediocre work.
Does saving time with AI mean you're doing a better job?
Not necessarily. AI can help you work faster, but speed doesn't equal quality. The time you save should be invested in making yourself more indispensable, rather than just pursuing quantity.