AI is the ultimate signal-to-noise filter for your work day. Don’t spend your time re-listening to recordings or deciphering messy shorthand. Use AI to extract the “architecture” of the conversation—the decisions made, the tasks assigned, and the blockers identified.
⚡ Quick Win: The “Decision & Action” Prompt
Use this when you have a messy transcript or a page of quick notes from a technical sync:
Try this:
“I’m going to paste a meeting transcript/notes below. Provide a summary that includes:
- A 3-sentence overview of the meeting’s purpose.
- A list of all final Decisions Made.
- A table of Action Items with columns for ‘Task’, ‘Owner’, and ‘Deadline’.
- Any Blockers or unresolved questions that need a follow-up.”
📸 Pro-Tip: Did you fill a whiteboard during a brainstorming session or a project kickoff? Snap a photo and ask:
“Transcribe the action items from this whiteboard and format them into a bulleted list for a Slack update.”
📌 Extracting the Signal
AI is perfect for parsing technical syncs or client calls where the “important bits” are buried in 45 minutes of chatter.
Try this:
“Review these notes and identify any technical requirements or constraints mentioned. Group them by category (e.g., Infrastructure, UX, Security).”
🕒 Automated Follow-Up Emails
Once you have the summary, don’t waste time drafting the update. Let the AI turn the logic into a professional communication.
Try this:
“Based on the Decisions and Action Items we just identified, draft a professional follow-up email to the team. Keep it under 200 words and use a helpful, direct tone.”
🗂️ Red-Teaming the Meeting
Sometimes what wasn’t said is as important as what was. Use AI to find the gaps in your meeting logic.
Try this:
“Based on these meeting notes, what critical questions were left unanswered? What potential risks were discussed but not assigned an owner?”
🧭 Next Steps
- Start fast: Try the Quick Win to clean up the notes from your last meeting.
- Communicate the results: Use the Write Better Emails guide to refine your meeting recap.
- Map the project: If the meeting launched a new initiative, visit Project Management with AI to build your roadmap.
⚠️ A quick note
AI can occasionally misinterpret shorthand, sarcasm, or “hallucinate” a decision that wasn’t actually finalized. Always give your summary a quick 30-second review for technical accuracy before hitting send.