Harvard Business Review

How to Build Your Personal AI Assistant

Harvard Business Review

Summary

Marketers are increasingly calling out "bull spend," a term used to describe advertising budgets allocated to metrics that may appear impressive but do not yield tangible results. This discussion highlights the disconnect between flashy metrics and actual performance, particularly when scrutinized by financial officers. The conversation emphasizes the importance of cutting unnecessary spending in favor of more effective strategies.

Alexandra Samuel, a tech speaker and data journalist, shares insights on building personalized AI assistants to streamline tasks such as writing and project tracking. She outlines a step-by-step approach to creating these assistants, which includes defining their persona, tasks, and tone. Samuel encourages users to test their assistants, provide feedback, and continuously refine their instructions to enhance performance. This process aims to alleviate repetitive tasks and improve efficiency in various professional settings.

Show Notes

How to Build Your Own AI Assistant

8 Jul 2025

---

Data journalist Alexandra Samuel shows how anyone can create a custom AI assistant in five easy steps.

Read the full article here: https://s.hbr.org/46v9JXR

Prefer audio? Listen to our newest IdeaCast episode with Alex for a deeper dive: https://s.hbr.org/4lNiZeB

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More from Harvard Business Review

Oct 31, 2026

Innovation Starts with Noticing This

Oct 31, 2026

Brain Wearables Will Know When Workers Are Losing FocusUploaded 13-03-2314 Mar 2023---The era of brain surveillance has begun, and it’s not a fad. It’s a new way of living and thinking about ourselves and our well-being—personally and professionally. Companies need to balance the risks to employees with the benefits of using neurotech devices in the workplace, says Nita Farahany, Professor of Law and Philosophy at Duke University. Read more on this at HBR.org: https://hbr.org/2023/03/neurotech-at-workFarahany is the author of “The Battle for Your Brain: Defending the Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology” (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Y45MY2V).00:00 Welcome to the world of brain monitoring for employees.02:24 How do brain wearables actually work? 02:54 What can (and can’t) they monitor and measure?03:24 Will my boss be able to read my mind?04:24 How big of a threat is this to employees’ privacy?06:04 What are some other pros and cons of this technology?07:09 How can employers and employees get ready for this?Follow us:https://hbr.org/https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvard-business-review/https://www.facebook.com/HBR/https://twitter.com/HarvardBizhttps://www.instagram.com/harvard_business_reviewSign up for Newsletters: https://hbr.org/email-newsletters#HarvardBusinessReview #Neurotech #BrainWearables #Work #Technology #Privacy #Harvard #HarvardBusinessSchool Copyright © 2023 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 31, 2026

How to Get Good at Small Talk, and Even Enjoy It

Oct 31, 2026

Four-day Workweeks and 8 Other Trends That May Shape 2024 and Beyond

Oct 31, 2026

What the Best Negotiators Do Differently

See all episodes →