AI Gives You Time Back for What Matters

A few years ago, I was working with President Bill Powers at UT Austin --- one of the best presidents we ever had, in my view.

He asked me to help modernize the university's digital and social presence, as well as refresh its brand positioning. But our weekly meetings kept getting hijacked.

Every time we tried to discuss strategy, we were pulled into the crisis of the day: donor backlash, political pressure, student protests, athletic controversies, and media flare-ups.

To stay organized --- and to keep our eyes on the horizon --- we built what we called a Crisis Radar: a running dashboard of hot issues, potential flashpoints, and the moments that needed "air cover" that week.

It worked. But it came at a cost.

UT Austin --- like much of higher ed --- is a crisis-rich environment. There's always something urgent, emotional, and political waiting to hijack your calendar. We were so busy reacting, we barely had time to lead.

At one point, I asked Bill, "If we spend all day in triage, when do we build the brand?"

Right in the middle of that daily cycle, we launched a research study with alumni and donors. Their top priority --- above everything else --- was "Vision to be the best."

Not risk avoidance. Not response times.

They wanted the university to aim high and execute with relentless determination.

Trust me, they didn't mean crisis management.

The Universal Pattern

And that's not just a university problem. Every organization I've worked with --- Fortune 1000s, nonprofits, start-ups --- falls into the same pattern.

When a crisis hits, everything else comes to a halt.

Internal teams abandon strategy. Everyone scrambles. Urgency overtakes intention. Consultants drop everything (and double their rates). And the real work --- the work that moves brands forward --- gets buried.

Where AI Changes the Equation

That's where AI changes the equation.

The best use of AI in a crisis isn't just speed --- it's relief. Relief from the manual tasks that steal focus, jam workflows, and pull your best people off the field.

And it's not limited to crises. AI can reclaim time across strategy, planning, donor engagement, software development, and reporting --- anywhere complexity slows progress.

As Adobe CIO Cynthia Stoddard put it:

"We internally view AI / ML as being a helper --- truly helping our people, and allowing them to spend more time on value-added activities."

Exactly. The win isn't faster responses; it's fewer people trapped in the fire and more focused on what matters.

When I see a domain-trained GPT auto-draft stakeholder messages, simulate reactions, or organize decision paths in minutes, I don't think "cool tech."

I think: "That just gave a leadership team its time --- and focus --- back."

Protecting Human Judgment

At CrisisCommand, we see that moment every day. Well-trained AI doesn't replace human judgment; it protects it --- freeing leaders to focus on the work only they can do.

If your best people suddenly got ten extra hours a week back...

Would they know what to do with it? And would your culture let them?

Happy July 4th, people.