Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has shared five ChatGPT-5 prompts he uses in his everyday work, through a new feature on Microsoft 365, to show just how AI is becoming integrated into executive workflows.
In his own words, Nadella says GPT-5 has provided “a layer of new intelligence” in all of his tools and apps.
Why These Prompts Matter
These prompts are not gimmicks-they represent a bit of how AI can streamline the core parts of your day such as preparing for meetings, updating stakeholders on projects, and managing time itself with thoughtful, personalized insights.
Using AI inside everyday tools such as Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel and so on, Nadella is changing the paradigm of how strategic leaders in business function.
The 5 Prompts That Nadella Swears By
Here’s an overview of each prompt, and what it brings to the table when it comes to daily workflows:
Anticipate the Hot Buttons for Those Next Meetings
“Given my past experiences w/ [person] give me 5 things they are likely to be focused on next time I see them.”
The prompt pulls in from past communication-everything from e-mails and instant messages to meetings-to predict what he’ll need to know to join a conversation prepared and with a knowledge of what the stakes will be.
Generate a Comprehensive Project Update
Draft a project update via emails, chats, all meetings in [series]: KPIs vs. targets, wins/losses, risks, competitive moves, plus probable challenging questions and answers.
This consolidates disparate sources into a concise summary updating on metrics, issues and expected challenges helping to make the status report a richer and more strategic update.
Analyze Launch Readiness with Data and Probability
Are we good to go with the [Product] launch in November? Consider eng progress, results of pilot program, risks.
By calculating probability with the benefit of real-time engineering updates and risk assessments, Nadella gets a real feel for whether projects are on track-fast and accurate.
Examine How and Where He’s Spending His Time
“Scan my calendar, inbox from past month and build 5 – 7 buckets around the projects I spend most (or any) time on Time percentage spent Short description”.
It’s very personal and dashboard like, to show you how you actually spend your time across projects great for prioritization and alignment.
Prepare for certain meetings with context
“Review [email] + prep me for next [series] meeting, referencing past manager and team convos.”
This provides a custom briefing including talking points, context and actions based on a single email and historical context, leaving meetings well informed and impactful.
The Forest: AI as Leaders’ Digital Assistant
Nadella’s use of these prompts points to a change A.I. is on its way to the role of digital chief of staff. It predicts what you need, distills complex data, and reduces the workflow of making decisions.
As mentioned by a relevant news feature “Nadella has essentially weaponised GPT-5 into his loop of productivity tools that will drive smarter, faster, better-informed executive actions”.
Broader AI Adoption Among CEOs
Nadella is not the only leader weaving AI deeply into the fabric of leadership work flow. Other global CEOs use AI:
- Tim Cook (Apple) uses Apple Intelligence to keep up to date with email and save time.
- Sam Altman (OpenAI) trains AI to sort emails, and even to do parenting research.
- Jensen Huang (Nvidia) views AI as an everyday tutor for promoting his technical knowledge.
These instances show how AI is creeping to decisions, time, learning and strategic clarity.
What Does This Mean for Modern Workflows
- AI Is Here. It’s Time to Get Your Bearings.
- These examples suggest that top-tier leaders are already turning to AI to make sense of the complexity around them.
Integration Is Key
By leaning on significant context from across the Microsoft ecosystem, Nadella’s prompts also provide more intelligent and perhaps more useful responses.
Adaptable for Any Role
While you don’t necessarily need these enterprise tools, the prompt formats themselves provide useful templates for everyone students and managers and creators interested in working smarter.
