AI for CEOs: How I use it daily as the CEO of DeskTime

Thoughtful AI use holds immense potential to benefit a company’s workflow and productivity, but how helpful can AI be for CEOs? Quite a lot, if you ask me. In fact, 69% of CEOs name AI as a top investment priority for 2026, and that doesn’t surprise me. Because why wouldn’t you use something that can make your workflow easier and, in a way, multiply your forces?

At DeskTime, we talk a lot about productivity and constantly seek ways to boost it. Hence, when AI took the world by storm, we followed it to see how it could make our days more efficient—me, the CEO, included. In this short but sweet article, I’ll share how I use AI as a CEO and why I think AI for CEOs is the ultimate strategic advantage for 2026.

Why AI for CEOs is a game-changer for strategy

AI use has effectively replaced Google Search in my daily routine. While I can still find the information elsewhere, having the opportunity to apply specific context to the search via AI is often priceless. In turn, using AI has transformed how I make decisions.

I mainly use the paid version of ChatGPT, and to me, it’s a “super-assistant” that filters vast amounts of data so I can make better-informed decisions. My relationship with AI is conversational and consultative. It’s like having a sparring partner that is available 24/7, and that’s amazing. 

For a CEO, the most valuable use case isn’t just “generating text”—it’s receiving advice. When I’m looking to implement a new process or solve a specific business problem, I ask the AI for a “skeleton” or a framework. I might feed it specific (non-sensitive) data and ask to provide some point of view. I then compare its output with my own thoughts and the reality of the team’s operations. It provides a high-level analytical view that helps me with further decision-making. AI for CEOs also offers specific industry trends, which, no matter how on top of it all we are, we can sometimes miss. 

Exploring the best AI tools for CEOs

Another AI use for CEOs I find extremely helpful is creating summaries. I spend a lot of time in meetings and often “consume” presentations with loads of comments. Hence, instead of manually going through meeting notes or other extensive information, I ask the AI to provide me with an “essence”. 

If you ask me to suggest the best AI tools for CEOs, honestly, just use whatever you like the most. You can try several options or use different tools for different purposes. For example, I’m a ChatGPT person, but I know that other people at DeskTime prefer Gemini, and some are loving Claude AI. It doesn’t matter which tool you choose, but how smartly you use it.

And speaking of smart, AI has helped us with SMART goals and KPI setting at DeskTime. I’ve noticed that employees sometimes struggle to turn their ambitious ideas into measurable, SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals. Now, when an employee sends me their team goals, and I see they aren’t quite measurable, I put them into ChatGPT. It redefines them in a format that is easy to track and often suggests ideas I hadn’t considered. That’s been my most-used feature over the past quarter.

As to KPIs, our COO and Head of HR, Sintija, also uses AI to formulate work OKRs and KPIs alongside using AI for HR management overall.

Scaling communication with AI for CEOs

AI for CEOs is often viewed as a personal assistant, and I’m in that club, too. There are plenty of tasks in my day that feel too small to delegate, but still take up my time, and in such cases, AI is my go-to helper.

Many such small tasks involve communication. For example, converting text to different formats or uploading a screenshot with some text and asking AI to extract the text from the picture instead of writing it down manually. I also use it to polish my own communication. I’ll write a draft of an email or an announcement myself, and then use AI to format it or adjust the tone. It’s about ensuring the message is clear and professional before it reaches the team or our board.

Team productivity and AI use—an executive perspective

The most effective AI tools for CEOs and their teams are those that encourage team-wide efficiency. At DeskTime, we encourage our team to use AI—especially our developers and data analysts. It’s a massive win for resource optimization, as it cuts down on manual labor.

However, there is a fine line. I’ll be honest: it’s a bit annoying when I receive a report, and I can still see the ChatGPT tone of voice or icons from a lazy copy-paste. As a leader, I want to see that the AI has been used to enhance a person’s work, not replace their thinking. AI is a tool, but the accountability remains human.

Personal optimization: AI beyond the office

Outside of the office, I apply the same data-driven approach to my personal life. I’m into sports, and I use AI to compare training programs or analyze my results. 

If I’ve been to a sports lab and have my metrics, I’ll feed that data into the AI to help calculate power zones or training plans. It’s surprisingly accurate—often aligning closely with what a sports doctor prescribes. It’s a prime example of how AI can be used for personal optimization if you have the correct data.

As to everyday planning, I’m not big on using AI, but I know some people use it to plan their free time or optimize their calendars, but I haven’t had a need for that yet. I do use it for travel planning and some idea generation. 

Looking ahead: From chats to projects

My AI resolution for 2026 is to move away from messy, long chat histories and toward more structured “Projects” within AI tools. By separating context—for example, keeping one project for a specific team’s KPIs and another for market research—the AI becomes much more effective.

Ultimately, the goal of AI for CEOs isn’t to work less—it’s to work smarter. It has changed the way I search for information, manage my team, and plan for the future.

Article written by

Artis Rozentals