In a recent fireside chat, LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky dropped a revealing detail about how he handles his daily communications: he uses Microsoft’s Copilot AI to assist in writing “almost every email,” even those sent to his boss, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
“A lot of the time when I’m sending a super high-stakes email to Satya Nadella or other CEOs or world leaders … you’ve got to make sure you sound super smart,” Roslansky explained.
“So I would say that without a doubt, almost every email that I send these days is being sent with the help of Copilot.”
However, he was careful to clarify that he doesn’t let AI take over entirely:
“The problem is that you're actually asking AI to make tons of decisions for you when you ask it to blindly reply to an email.”
Instead, Roslansky uses Copilot as a guided assistant: it prompts him with questions, helps refine tone, organizes structure, and ensures clarity.
Why This Matters: The Rise of AI in Executive Communication
What may sound like a novelty actually signals broader shifts in how high-stakes communication is evolving in the C-suite. Here are some of the key implications and takeaways:
1. Efficiency Doesn’t Mean Abandoning Voice
Roslansky’s approach strikes a balance: he offloads drafting and structural tasks to AI but retains control over content, tone, and final edits. This “human + AI” model helps scale output without losing authenticity.
2. Tone, Clarity & Reputation Are High Stakes
When you’re emailing global executives or public figures, every word carries weight. CEOs like Roslansky see AI as a way to reduce missteps—helping them sound confident, precise, and polished.
3. Wider Trend Among Leaders
Roslansky joins other top leaders in leaning into AI for routine yet critical tasks. According to a recent Gallup poll, executives use AI in their workflows at roughly twice the rate of individual contributors.
4. Risks & Guardrails Remain Crucial
Relying on AI for communications also opens vulnerability: hallucinations (false statements), tone mismatches, context loss, or failure to catch subtleties. Roslansky’s caution about blind replies is a strong hint that leaders are aware of these risks.
Best Practices (Inspired by Roslansky) for Using AI in Professional Writing
If executives can use AI for emails, so can communication teams, consultants, and professionals. Here are lessons drawn from how Roslansky does it:
| Practice | Why it Helps |
|---|---|
| Use AI as assistant, not author | You retain control, and the AI helps with structure, tone, and clarity |
| Prompt the AI with guiding questions | It surfaces context, objections, and intent you may miss |
| Review every generated piece carefully | Watch for factual errors, quirks in tone, or unintended phrasing |
| Insert personal touches | Authentic details help preserve your human voice |
| Log or audit high-stakes AI-drafted communication | Good for compliance, accountability, and learning |
What to Watch Next
- Whether corporate governance norms emerge around disclosing AI assistance in executive communications
- How tools like Copilot evolve (tighter guardrails, fact-checking, customization)
- The balance companies strike between efficiency gains and maintaining human authenticity
- Whether use of AI in communications becomes standard in regulated industries (finance, healthcare, law)
Closing Thoughts
When LinkedIn’s CEO says AI helps him write “almost every email,” it’s not just a tech curiosity. It’s a glimpse of how leadership communication is being transformed. By combining AI’s efficiency with human oversight, Roslansky’s approach illustrates a new norm: centaur-style workflows, where humans and AI collaborate, rather than one replacing the other.
Sources
- Entrepreneur: LinkedIn’s CEO Says He Uses AI to Write ‘Almost Every Email,’ Including to His Boss, the Head of Microsoft Entrepreneur
- Business Insider: LinkedIn CEO says almost every ‘super high stakes’ email he sends is written with AI help Business Insider
- Other coverage & analysis (Dataconomy, Webull)