Mindshare Monthly: How Our Coworking Community Uses AI

“AI is my assistant to review copy, summarize survey data and help me be creative.”

– Workhaus member from our Kitchener-Waterloo location

Welcome back to another Mindshare Monthly, where we ask our coworking community members a question and share the answers! In June, like many of you, we were excited and inspired by Collision Conference (where our team had a great time). Collision was hosted in Toronto for the fourth year in a row and it had a heavy focus on AI this year, which got us thinking…. So we asked our members “How do you use AI in your work and personal life?” As always, we received a flurry of responses with a wide range of creative and surprising answers! Thank you again to all our members who participated– we’re always excited to read and share your insights.

We picked up on an interesting trend while reviewing responses this month. Based on what was shared, we found that AI applications among our members fall into three main categories: increasing accessibility in daily life, bolstering productivity by helping get work done faster & more efficiently, and facilitating creativity. We even saw some answers highlighting use cases for all three at once! Today we’re going to dive into each category and see how AI is transforming the way we work and live.

Accessibility: AI as Your Everyday Toolkit

“Better to ask how do I NOT utilize it!”

– Workhaus member from our Kitchener-Waterloo location

It’s no surprise that AI is making our lives easier and more accessible in countless ways, and this is even more true when we combine AI with other tools. One member uses google maps to identify directions and Chat GPT to find travel options. Another combination is using translation tools and AI to bridge language barriers and improve communication. We love this expert combo because it can help us both at work and on the move!

Other answers reflected how some AI features have become so ubiquitous that we may even forget that they make use of AI. For example, some of you use automated E-payments for easy money transfers and account management, Face ID for secure access to devices and applications, and Siri or Alexa for, well, everything! These answers are all great examples of how AI can make life easier and more accessible. Another example of this is using AI to help us navigate decisions. One member has been asking AI for podcast suggestions. Another uses AI to generate recipes based on available ingredients – a huge time-saver, and a big help to those of us who aren’t so kitchen-savvy. Some also use AI for summarizing data, which is essential for decision making.

Productivity: Promoting A More Efficient You

“I use AI to answer sales questions.”

– Workhaus member from our 350 Bay St location

When it comes to productivity, AI is a powerful ally. Many of our members are freelancers and small business owners who often wear multiple hats. AI tools can be a game-changer for these individuals, who sometimes contend with limited resources. AI tools can help them compete on a larger scale by offering features like chatbots to manage communication with clients, or assisted email/message composition. AI data analysis tools are hugely valuable too, helping to expeditiously extract valuable insights. Or keep it simple and make the most of excel by asking ChatGPT to generate formulas for you.

Composing emails, brainstorming ideas, and rewording thoughts into more professional phrases were all popular answers, but it wasn’t all about work. We also heard that AI can help with writing to family and friends, like wishes for birthdays and other occasion wishes. These are all great examples of how AI can help us with whatever it is that we’re trying to figure out!

Creativity: Fueling New Ideas

“I used to work with latent semantic analysis. Now I play with it.“

– Workhaus member from our Kitchner-Waterloo location

AI is not just about productivity – it’s also becoming an essential tool for creative minds, inspiration seekers, or anyone else with a spark of an idea that needs a jumpstart. It can translate your thoughts into first drafts, conjure up stunning visuals, or even guide you through unfamiliar coding languages. We heard from Workhaus members who use chatGPT or other AI programs to help them generate new ideas, new art or images, or to convert their ideas into drafts. Some members shared how AI helps them tackle tasks like generating or refining code, creating concept art, and even getting personalized advice on topics like social media and dating apps. We also saw how it can accompany you through every step of the creative process. From brainstorming new ideas to generating your initial sketches or text outlines, and then revising and editing your final product, AI is your partner in creativity.

Keep the Conversation Going with Workhaus

“Still learning how to use AI but it is clear that it will transform all of our lives. Hopefully for good.”

– Workhaus member from our 181 University Ave location

There’s no doubt that AI is rapidly changing the landscape of work and daily life. With tools to help us increase accessibility, productivity, and creativity, AI is helping us achieve more and live better.

Thank you all again for your creative contributions this month. That’s it for our latest Mindshare Monthly! We hope you found some ideas to help you make use of AI. And rest assured there will be more questions and answers to come. To see all of the answers that the community shared, keep an eye on the community boards at all Workhaus locations, and to read and respond to our latest question just swing by the front desk!