5 Automations to Build This Week
- Auto-summarise meeting recordings into action items
- AI-draft replies to customer enquiry emails
- Auto-post social content from a Google Sheet schedule
- Generate weekly performance reports automatically
- Auto-categorise and tag incoming emails by topic
Understanding the Automation Stack
AI automation typically combines three types of tools working together:
- Trigger apps — where the automation starts (Gmail, Slack, Google Forms, etc.)
- AI processing — where intelligence is applied (ChatGPT API, Claude API, or built-in AI steps)
- Action apps — where results go (Notion, Google Docs, Slack, email, etc.)
The workflow platform (Zapier, Make, or n8n) is the glue that connects them.
Workflow 1 — Auto-Summarise Emails
- Set up the trigger — In Zapier, choose Gmail as trigger, set it to fire on "New Email matching search" with a filter like "label:customer-enquiry"
- Add a ChatGPT step — Add a "ChatGPT: Send Prompt" action. Prompt: "Summarise this email in 3 bullet points and suggest a reply: {{email body}}"
- Save to Notion — Add a final step that creates a Notion page with the original email, summary, and suggested reply.
- Test and refine — Run the Zap on 5-10 real emails. Adjust the prompt until summaries are consistently useful.
Workflow 2 — Social Media Content Calendar
- Create a Google Sheet — Columns: Date, Topic, Platform, Draft, Status. Fill in dates and topics for the next month.
- Zapier trigger — "New or Updated Row in Google Sheets" — fires when Status changes to "Draft Needed"
- ChatGPT writes the post — Prompt: "Write a {{Platform}} post about {{Topic}} for a {{your business type}} audience. 150 words max. Include a call to action. Use a {{your tone}} tone."
- Write draft back to Sheet — Update the Draft column with the AI output. Change Status to "Ready for Review."
- Human review step — You review and approve posts weekly, then a final Zap publishes approved posts via Buffer or Hootsuite.
Workflow 3 — Meeting Notes to Action Items
This workflow uses Otter.ai (which auto-transcribes meetings) connected to ChatGPT and Notion or Slack.
- Record your meeting — Otter.ai automatically transcribes Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet calls.
- Otter webhook fires — When transcription is complete, Otter sends the transcript to your Zapier webhook.
- ChatGPT processes the transcript — Prompt: "From this meeting transcript, extract: (1) a 3-bullet summary, (2) all action items with owner names, (3) any decisions made. Format as Markdown."
- Create Notion page or Slack message — Post the structured output to your team's Notion workspace or a Slack channel.
The No-Code Automation Tools Worth Learning
| Tool | Best For | Free Tier | Paid From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zapier | Beginners, business apps | 100 tasks/mo | $19.99/mo |
| Make (Integromat) | Complex workflows, lower cost | 1,000 ops/mo | $9/mo |
| n8n | Self-hosted, unlimited | Self-host free | $20/mo cloud |
Start small: Build one automation this week. Choose the task you do most repetitively. Get it working before adding complexity. Most people build their best automations after seeing a simple one work — the possibilities become obvious.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AI automation?
AI automation combines AI tools (like ChatGPT) with workflow tools (like Zapier) to create sequences of automated tasks that run without human intervention. For example: a new email arrives → AI categorises it → sends appropriate auto-reply.
Do I need to know how to code to automate with AI?
No. Tools like Zapier, Make (formerly Integromat), and n8n have visual, drag-and-drop interfaces. You connect apps and set conditions without writing code.
What is Zapier?
Zapier is a workflow automation platform that connects 5,000+ apps. You create 'Zaps' — automated workflows triggered by events in one app that cause actions in another. It includes AI steps powered by ChatGPT.
How much does AI automation cost?
Zapier's free plan includes 100 tasks/month and 5 Zaps — enough to start. The Starter plan at $19.99/month covers most small business needs. ChatGPT API usage adds approximately $5-20/month for moderate use.
What tasks are best suited to AI automation?
Repetitive tasks with consistent patterns: email sorting and responses, social media scheduling, data entry, report generation, meeting summarisation, and content repurposing.