At Automattic, we use AI tools regularly – it comes naturally when you’re a software company. As someone who focuses more on people and operations than code, I’ve found interesting ways to use AI to do more. I’ve been using Claude as an assistant – someone who can take a messy pile of information and transform it into something clear and actionable.

Here’s an example of what I mean: Recently, I had Claude analyze a collection of recruitment performance data. It then spit out some comparative tables, visualized trends, and helped me identify patterns across my team. Instead of spending hours compiling and formatting this information, Claude handled the initial work while I focused on interpreting what the patterns meant for our team. It wasn’t perfect, but did clear away a lot of fog so I could focus better.

Another example is how I used Claude to help me develop documentation on objective hiring best practices. I needed to pull together multiple resources, analyze what we already have, and find gaps in our understanding. I started with outlining the problem space, shared our scenario, and Claude proposed a structure. Through several iterations, I refined it from being too specific to something more broadly applicable across different hiring scenarios.

I developed an outline and then Claude created initial drafts based on the outline, then we went back and forth to refine and revise. As I provided feedback about specific sections, Claude helped rewrite them to really speak to our Talent team’s needs. For instance, when I needed to explain the importance of scorecards, I wasn’t sure where in the document to put the new information and Claude suggested the perfect spot in the flow with the right level of detail – technical enough to be useful, but not so dense that it would overwhelm.

I also used Claude to plan my garden, which, admittedly, was a totally different kind of task. I shared my constraints – the size of my garden plots and the types of plans I’m interested in – along with the NMSU Extension Office gardening guide. Claude created a layout  for me and planting schedules. I also appreciate the back and forth that can be done. Claude doesn’t get everything right and can’t know all the nuance, but I can add more and more details, correcting and adjusting as I go along, until I get pretty nearly what I want. I was even able to get a seed shopping list and recommended shops.

What I appreciate most is how this approach lets me focus on the strategic thinking while handing off the initial analysis and organization. It’s not about replacing my work – it’s about having a really efficient way to get from raw material to a more-or-less polished final product. Cliche, I know, but it’s about working smarter, not harder. I still drive the process and make the decisions, and having this kind of analytical and organizational support helps me tackle projects and get faster results. 

I even had Claude help me sort out the information to include in this post. Sorry, not sorry. I went through some of the more interesting projects I’ve worked on recently, had Claude go through them and analyze how the tool helped me in those cases.

Onward and upward!