In 2025, executive time is simply too expensive to be spent on tasks that AI can handle in minutes.
And yet — in many companies — both executives and their assistants continue working the old way: manually drafting documents, formatting slides, updating trackers, preparing reports, and transcribing meeting notes.
This isn’t just a matter of inefficiency. It’s a financial drain — silent, recurring, and entirely preventable.
The hidden cost of outdated workflows
Let’s break it down.
Your executive assistant earns €2,500 per month. That’s roughly €125 per working day.
Now imagine they spend:
- 40 minutes summarizing a meeting
- 1 hour building a presentation
- 30 minutes formatting lists and tables
- 20 minutes rewriting an internal email
That’s 2.5 hours per day on tasks that could be partially or fully automated with AI tools like GPT for Sheets, ChatGPT, or document assistants.
Now multiply that by 21 working days.
That’s over 52 hours per month spent manually — the equivalent of €650+ gone each month per assistant.
And this is just one person.
Now add your entire admin or operations team to the equation.
AI doesn’t replace assistants. It makes them indispensable.
At Smart & Talented, we’ve seen what happens when assistants start using AI intentionally — not just experimenting with ChatGPT, but integrating it into everyday work.
When properly trained, AI-enabled assistants:
- Build presentations in half the time
- Generate polished reports directly from raw data
- Extract action items from meetings in minutes
- Automate scheduling, reminders, email replies, and task tracking
- Proactively support leadership with insights, not just updates
Most importantly: they stop acting as “task receivers” and become drivers of operations.
Don’t fall behind: assistants who can’t use AI will cost you more
The companies we work with — from Forbes-listed enterprises to scaling startups — understand this shift.
What used to be a “nice to have” skillset has become essential.
Leaders no longer ask, “Can my assistant use AI?”
They ask, “Why haven’t we hired someone who already can?”
Because while your current assistant figures out how to write a GPT prompt, another company’s assistant is already generating three investor decks and summarizing four market reports before lunch.
Looking for someone who’s AI-ready? We’ll help you hire.
At Smart & Talented, we specialize in hiring executive assistants who are not just qualified, but prepared for modern business.
We assess not only experience and communication skills, but also digital fluency, AI adaptability, and operational mindset.
Our database holds over 14,000 vetted candidates — and we’ve successfully filled 1,350+ roles in 30+ countries.
We understand that finding someone who fits your business culture, pace, and technology stack isn’t easy. That’s why we handle the entire search process — from profiling to final interviews — so you can focus on scaling, not scanning CVs.
Why companies trust us
- <2% replacement rate — our hires stay and grow
- 3.5-year average tenure
- 41 clients from the Forbes list
- 375 corporate clients worldwide
- Extensive network in Europe, MENA, and Asia
- Deep expertise in hiring assistants who understand AI tools
We don’t just fill positions. We build partnerships.
And we know what modern support looks like.
Ready to reduce admin drag and regain strategic time?
If you’re scaling fast, but your team’s output is stuck in 2021 — we’ll help you upgrade.
Whether you need one executive assistant or want to build a full AI-ready support team, Smart & Talented will find the right match.
Get in touch to discuss your hiring needs.
Because in 2025, it’s not about doing more.
It’s about doing smarter — with the right people (and tools) in place.