Dan Shapero, Chief Operating Officer of LinkedIn, has detailed his practical use of artificial intelligence (AI) in his professional routine, emphasising the importance for business leaders to engage actively with AI technology. Speaking to Business Insider, Shapero noted that as LinkedIn continues to introduce AI-driven products, he himself has been incorporating AI tools to enhance efficiency and stay informed.

Shapero outlined three specific ways he uses AI in his daily work:

  1. Meeting Summaries: Shapero acknowledged that he cannot attend every meeting but values the information shared. To bridge this gap, he relies on AI — particularly Microsoft’s Copilot integrated with Teams — to provide concise summaries of meetings he misses. “I’ll often use Copilot to summarize meeting outcomes to make sure that I can stay on top of the business,” he said.

  2. Learning New Topics: When faced with unfamiliar subjects such as emerging technologies, new legislation, or evolving industry trends, Shapero turns to conversational AI tools like ChatGPT. He described this approach as “very helpful” for gaining a deep understanding of complex topics quickly.

  3. Meeting Preparation: To economise time in preparing for meetings, Shapero uses LinkedIn’s own Account IQ product, which compiles recent company news, LinkedIn activity, hiring trends, and other relevant data into a succinct dossier. “It takes all the news that’s been going on around a company… and it summarizes it into a one-page dossier that I can then read to be prepared for my discussion,” he explained.

Additionally, Shapero employs AI chatbots to improve the clarity and effectiveness of his written and oral communication. However, he pointed out that he still prefers to craft his own profile on LinkedIn manually, given his experience with first-person writing.

Despite these numerous advantages, Shapero emphasised that AI cannot replace essential human elements of his role. He particularly highlighted recruitment, stating that while AI can assist in sourcing and shortlisting candidates, determining cultural fit and persuading candidates remain personal, human-driven tasks: “How do I really assess whether they’re a good fit for the job? How do I have a conversation with them to convince them that we’re a good match for them?”

Furthermore, he expressed scepticism regarding AI’s ability to fulfil leadership roles, suggesting that AI has yet to demonstrate capabilities such as team inspiration or forming deeper human connections. Shapero also noted that the limitations of AI tools, especially when they face data scarcity, mean “Ultimately it has to be you at the centre, making the decision and seeing the path forward.”

Addressing business leaders broadly, Shapero advised they become comfortable and proficient with AI technologies, as they will likely be questioned by CEOs and boards about their AI strategies. “The leaders who have good answers to those questions will be successful in the next decade,” he stated.

Shapero’s insights reflect a growing trend among technology executives integrating AI into workflows while recognising the ongoing necessity for human judgment and leadership. Other notable tech figures, including Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, have reported daily AI use, with some, such as Shopify’s CEO Tobe Lütke, even mandating AI deployment across their companies.

The AOL.com report concludes that AI is increasingly shaping executive functions within major technology companies, marking a significant shift in workplace productivity and decision-making processes.

Source: Noah Wire Services