Want to become an AI expert? It only takes 11 minutes a day, Microsoft says

It only takes 11 minutes/daily for about 11 continuous weeks to not only become an expert in Copilot but also acknowledge and learn to reap its benefits, says Microsoft, after it experimented with over 1300 Copilot for Microsoft 365 users across different industries.

We asked 1,300 Copilot for Microsoft 365 users across different functions and industries about AI’s impact on their productivity, work enjoyment, and more. Then we analyzed which factors were more likely to influence these outcomes. 

Microsoft

In a blog post, the Redmond-based tech giant says that 11 is a magic number and the common element when it comes to not only adopting AI, but learning to use it for your benefit, and even getting to a point where it becomes indispensable.

What do people need to do?

First off, they need to save up or reserve 11 minutes a day, where they only use AI to work. Microsoft says these minutes can be taken at the end of the day when users can ask AI models, such as Copilot, to complete various tasks for them, from summarising emails to composing them, or listening to meetings, and so on.

First, find the easy wins that immediately save 11 minutes a day. To model how to catch up on missed meetings, tell your people not to worry about taking notes or listening to the recording, and instead ask AI to recap the key points. Executives can use it to summarize long documents or drawn-out email chains. Think about examples specific to different roles too: recruiters, for instance, can easily save 11 minutes by using AI to write up job descriptions.

Microsoft

The second step is to follow the first step for 11 weeks: that is, every day, for 11 weeks, Microsoft wants users to find 11 minutes to use AI for whatever purposes.

After 11 weeks, which is roughly the equivalent of a business quarter, Microsoft said the company saw an increase in Copilot usage in 4 sectors: productivity, meeting relief, work enjoyment, and work-life balance, as follows:

While Microsoft’s survey is ongoing, and its theory can be a good idea, our survey shows that it takes more than 11 minutes to actually motivate people to use AI: 30% of those who have access to Copilot, never use it, while 16% use it a few times during the day, or week, with 14% using it only when it’s necessary. Only 27% of users claimed they use Copilot all the time.

However, Microsoft’s recommendations are welcomed, and those 11 minutes/daily of using AI are not that much, however, for most of us, it could still feel like a chore.

You can read all about Microsoft’s Copilot experiment here.