Zapier CEO Uses AI Agents to Save Two Hours Daily

Zapier CEO Uses AI Agents to Save Two Hours Daily

Wade Foster, co-founder and CEO of workflow automation company Zapier, has built what he calls a "robot staff"—a collection of AI agents and automations that handle recurring work, generate daily briefings, and manage enterprise customer relationships.

Speaking on the My First Million podcast with hosts Sam Parr and Shaan Puri, Foster described how these AI systems save him approximately two hours each day while keeping his attention focused on critical tasks, according to Inc.

How the AI systems work

Foster's approach centers on delegating routine cognitive work to AI rather than simply speeding up existing manual processes. His "robot staff" operates continuously in the background, eliminating the need for him to initiate or monitor multiple small tasks throughout the day.

Each morning at 6:00 a.m., Foster receives an AI-generated Slack message that serves as his daily brief. The system reviews his calendar, email, meeting notes, and other sources to synthesize what requires his attention that day. This automated briefing replaces what would traditionally require manual review of multiple systems and documents.

Beyond morning briefings, Foster uses AI agents to manage customer relationship management activities with enterprise clients and to serve as a sounding board for ideas. The systems handle these functions autonomously rather than waiting for Foster to trigger them.

Why it matters

Foster's implementation offers a concrete example of how executives can use AI for leverage rather than just efficiency. By automating the synthesis and presentation of information—not just data entry or scheduling—leaders can preserve cognitive capacity for strategic decisions. For a CEO running a $5 billion company, two hours of reclaimed focus time daily represents significant compounding value. The approach also demonstrates practical AI use cases that don't require custom development, making similar systems accessible to other business leaders.

The broader context

Zapier, founded by Foster in 2012 and based in San Francisco, builds tools that help businesses automate workflows across different applications and services. The company's $5 billion valuation reflects growing demand for automation solutions as organizations seek to improve operational efficiency.

Foster emphasized that his goal isn't to increase working hours but to increase output within the same time constraints. The AI systems allow him to maintain productivity without extending his workday—a distinction that matters for sustainable leadership practices.

The details were first reported by Chris Morris at Inc., based on Foster's appearance on the My First Million podcast.