Reporting from Zug, Switzerland — Europe’s biotech hub
The New Biotech Skill: AI Fluency at the Office
In biotech, we obsess over validation and compliance—but most office teams still wrestle with spreadsheets, slides, and endless email. AI fluency is the missing skill that turns routine work into time saved, cleaner deliverables, and better decisions.
Why AI fluency matters now
Regulatory, medical, quality, supply chain, finance—everyone spends hours compiling variations of the same information. Modern copilots cut 40–70% of that friction when you use them deliberately:
- Microsoft Copilot (Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Outlook): summarize threads, draft first-pass docs, build charts, tighten language.
- Claude / ChatGPT: rewrite for audience, convert notes → briefs, create checklists/SOP skeletons, spot inconsistencies.
- Notion AI / Confluence AI: auto-tag actions, produce minutes, maintain living trackers
How to start without waiting for IT
- Use non-confidential inputs to learn safely.
- Give structure (headings, bullets, tables, a “gold” example).
- Prompt like a manager with audience, length, and actions.
- Standardize outputs with saved prompts + style rules.
Measure your impact (and make it visible)
- Time saved (e.g., 3 h → 1 h).
- Touches removed (review cycles avoided).
- Quality lift (fewer redlines; clearer “so-what”).
Share a one-pager: Problem → AI approach → Evidence → Reusable prompt.
Guardrails that build trust
- Grounding: cite sources/slide numbers.
- Tone & scope: define audience, length, and “no new facts.”
- Traceability: save prompt + model + version.
- Human-in-the-loop: AI drafts; owner signs off.
Practical starter kit
Exec summary prompt: “Summarize for senior stakeholders in 120–150 words. Keep benefits/risks, one metric, and one action. No new facts.”
Slide tighten prompt: “Reduce this slide to 5 bullets. Remove duplicates, align terminology with our glossary (…list…), suggest a clearer title.”
Table QA prompt: “Scan this table for missing values, inconsistent units, or outliers. Return issues with cell refs and a proposed fix.”
AI fluency = career edge
In 2025, mastering AI for office workflows is a visible advantage. Cut cycle time, raise quality, and show your guardrails—that’s leadership.
CTA: Subscribe to AIxBiotech: AI Sapien → Subscribe