Not a day goes by that Gretchen doesn't hear from someone who's saving time with AI — but almost nobody talks about what they're actually doing with that time back. In this episode, Gretchen and Bre'Ana get honest about where their own saved time is going, and challenge listeners to be more intentional about theirs.
In This Episode:
Gretchen and Bre'Ana share real examples of how AI is saving them time day to day — from quick internal comms to using AI as a thinking partner to overcome the blank-page problem. They dig into the tension between reinvesting that time in strategic, life-giving work versus quietly letting it get absorbed into "just doing more." The conversation moves from individual habits (in-person connection, team "wallows," career-building "look up and out" thinking) to what leaders owe their teams in this moment — clear communication, protected space for reflection, and permission to treat transformation as valuable work, not an extra task piled onto an already full plate.
Continue the Conversation:
Take a moment today to think about it: How is AI giving you more time, and what are you doing with it? Are you rebalancing your workload to make room for what you enjoy, or defaulting to more of the same? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Resources Mentioned:
https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/generative-ai-changes-how-employees-spend-their-time
https://www.bcg.com/publications/2026/ai-at-work-why-strategy-matters-more-than-tools
https://hbr.org/2026/02/ai-doesnt-reduce-work-it-intensifies-it
00:00 Introduction: The human side of AI at work
00:49 What would you do with a free day at work?
02:34 How AI is saving time and creating new opportunities
06:19 Bre'Ana's strategies for leveraging AI in thinking and learning 08:49 Speeding up work and rethinking how to use saved time
10:55 The tension between doing more and being purposeful
12:18 Reflections on shifting work habits and intentionality
13:53 Turning time savings into meaningful activities
17:52 Creating space for strategic thinking and team collaboration
20:52 Investing time in passion projects and human flourishing
23:01 The importance of team connection and leadership in AI adoption 28:13 Leadership communication and guiding AI-driven change
29:53 Transforming work and roles through AI
34:21 Shared responsibility for shaping the future of work with AI
35:53 Summary: Using AI purposefully for a better work life
Learn more and explore additional resources:
coworkerswithai.com
About Coworkers with AI
Coworkers with AI is a conversational video podcast exploring how artificial intelligence is changing the lived experience of work. Through thoughtful conversations with practitioners, leaders, and researchers, we explore the opportunities, tensions, and emerging workplace norms shaping the future of human and AI collaboration.
Music by Abby Hubbard
Available at: http://bit.ly/3SyZ0qD
The views expressed in this podcast are our own and do not necessarily represent the views of our employers.