Start with friction, not a persona
A generic assistant can answer broad questions, but it rarely knows which source is authoritative, which step comes next or what the user is allowed to do. Productivity appears when the assistant is designed around a repeated unit of work.
Good candidates combine high search or preparation effort with clear source material and a human who can evaluate the output.
Four useful roles
Assistants can retrieve evidence, prepare structured drafts, check work against policy and coordinate the next action. Combining these roles is possible, but each needs a clear contract.
- Retrieve: find approved information with citations
- Prepare: assemble a draft in the required structure
- Check: compare work with rules and missing evidence
- Coordinate: route actions and update connected systems
Measure the workflow
Track the time from request to accepted outcome, the amount of rework and the proportion of outputs users accept. Usage by itself can hide curiosity or repeated failure.
A productive assistant removes work while preserving clarity about who decides and what evidence supports the result.
Technology capabilities and commercial terms change over time. Validate current provider documentation and test assumptions against your own workload before making an investment decision.
