WANT TO BECOME AN AI-FIRST COMPANY? START WITH YOUR MEETING CALENDAR

By Dustin Ruge

After working in large corporate environments over the past few decades, I can confidently say that one of the most universally shared frustrations among professionals was the relentless wave of internal meetings. They were often long, frequently unnecessary, and more times than not, politically charged. Despite the appearance of productivity, many of these meetings led to little actual progress.

Sound familiar?

Meetings were so pervasive that we often joked, only half-seriously, that we had meetings to plan meetings. Entire calendars would fill up weeks in advance, leaving little actual time to focus, create, or execute. Decision-making slowed to a crawl. Creative momentum stalled. And in the end, very few meetings delivered what they promised: alignment, action, or clarity.

Today, as CEO, I stand (instead of sit) at my desk with one of my monitors dedicated entirely to AI copilots like ChatGPT. And that, in many ways, has changed everything.

Instead of first scheduling a meeting to brainstorm ideas, I open a prompt. Instead of gathering five people to debate a strategic direction, I run simulations, ask questions, and get structured answers back in seconds. Rather than waiting days for someone to summarize data and create reports, I simply upload it and ask my AI to analyze trends, summarize takeaways, and even write an action plan. And unlike traditional meetings, even remotely over Zoom, AI copilots don’t posture, ramble, or steer conversations off-track.

The Evolution of the Modern Work Conversation

The real purpose of many internal meetings was to align teams, gather insights, surface questions, or collaborate to help solve problems. But what happens when an AI copilot can do all of that without scheduling conflicts, personality clashes, or wasted hours?

We're not talking about replacing collaboration itself, but rather the inefficient format that office meetings have historically represented. AI copilots provide a faster, more direct way to get clarity, iterate ideas, and make informed decisions. They serve as sounding boards, editors, researchers, analysts, and strategists, instantly accessible and endlessly scalable, and without the humanary roadblocks that accompany traditional meetings.

This doesn’t mean human input becomes irrelevant. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. With less time spent on repetitive or performative meetings, there’s more room for meaningful collaboration when it truly matters – often when real decision making takes place.

Why Meetings Are Being Replaced

Here’s a quick look at how I see AI copilots disrupting traditional meeting structures:

• Status Updates: AI copilots can generate real-time dashboards, reports, and summaries - no need for recurring syncs just to “check in.”
• Brainstorming Sessions: Instead of gathering everyone for a whiteboarding session, AI can rapidly generate creative ideas, refine concepts, and even simulate user feedback – and do all this within minutes and 24/7 when I need it.
• Strategic Planning: AI copilots can rapidly digest complex inputs, analyze market data, and even create scenario models - freeing up time for strategic thinking instead of wasting time on slide decks.
• Problem-Solving Huddles: Need an answer? AI copilots will most likely have one faster than a room full of people.

The End of Meetings-as-Default

We’re entering a phase where meetings are no longer the default response to ambiguity or misalignment. With AI copilots embedded in daily workflows, we’re replacing meeting fatigue with focused output. Questions that once required group consensus can now be answered, or at least framed intelligently, by an always-on AI assistant.

And perhaps most importantly, the mental load is lighter. There's less context-switching, fewer interruptions, and more autonomy to solve problems and drive initiatives forward without being trapped in a cycle of circular discussion.

Conclusion

Will traditional office meetings disappear entirely? Probably not. But their role is rapidly shrinking and evolving – especially as many organizations move to an AI-first operation – which in my opinion should start with meeting management. Human collaboration still matters, especially when nuance, empathy, consensus-building, and key decision making is needed. But for the bulk of what we once used meetings to accomplish, AI copilots are now the faster, smarter, and more efficient option.

For me, that second monitor running ChatGPT and other copilots all day isn’t just a productivity tool - it’s a replacement for dozens of unnecessary meetings each week and allows me to continue to do the work of many people in the same amount of time.

And I’m not looking back.

About the Author Dustin Ruge is the CEO of Law Leaders, an ABS law firm and legal AI technology company focused on transforming the legal industry through automation and innovation. He is also a best-selling author of five books with over 17 years of experience helping thousands of law firms grow and operate more efficiently. Dustin is a recognized thought leader in AI-powered legal services, legal AI intake automation, and law firm scalability.

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