How to actually use AI for IT work instead of just hype
Most discussions about artificial intelligence rely on vague hype rather than concrete, day-to-day applications. System administrators and IT professionals struggle to figure out what can actually be automated because consultants don't have answers and messy existing environments make integration feel like more trouble than it is worth, leaving teams stuck in a cycle of FOMO without clear use cases.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Using AI tools like Claude to create and edit Confluence documentationDid this help you?
- 2Generating flyers and infographicsDid this help you?
- 3Writing script drafts for automation tasksDid this help you?
- 4Building local dashboard overviews for endpoints and calendars using chatgpt sitesDid this help you?
- 5using the software primarily in Excel or limiting its use to basic tasksDid this help you?
- 6Using internal staff who are already reasonably good with AI toolsDid this help you?
- 7Relying on a dedicated internal tech team with AI and workflow specialistsDid this help you?
- 8Asking peers on forums for examplesDid this help you?
- 9Experimenting with ad-hoc technical tasks like scanning website DOMs for data exfiltrationDid this help you?
- 10Testing specific features like lead prioritization while ignoring admin cleanup toolsDid this help you?
- 11Consulting with external experts to understand AI capabilitiesDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“it has been hard to identify which capabilities are useful and which simply look fine on demonstration.”source ↗
“My worry is that poorly kept data will just result in bad recommendations that are faster.”source ↗
“We’ve tried and had consultants in and talk about it and all but it’s so surface level and more nice to have stuff seemingly.”source ↗
“I ask people all the time “what do you want to do with it”. Never a valid Or sometimes any response”source ↗
“I just don't get what can be automated via agents. But maybe it's just because the way our environment is currently a mess i just don't see AI helping but making more work to program for crazy”source ↗
“What are some basic or extravagant AI agents IT users use to make their day easier or more streamlined? I am struggling with ideas but every time we ask a paid consultant to tell us, what do other people use that might make our lives easier in this profession, it's like no one really knows.”source ↗
“No one knows what to do with it. Just FOMO.”source ↗
“Anyone using these tools for back end stuff? I've found it handy primarily in Excel. Curious to know if I'm missing anything else that might be useful to use.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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- 8How to audit employee AI tools and browser extensions