AI is changing the way we work, helping us solve problems, learn new skills, and find new ways to get things done. At Textron, employees are putting these tools to use in their everyday routines, both at work and at home.

Meach is Director of IT for the Applied Intelligence team at Textron Aviation. He’s also a husband and dad who uses AI to challenge ideas, untangle his inbox, and get a head start on holiday shopping.

Welcome to “The wAI We Work”, a new Careers Blog series exploring how employees across Textron use AI throughout their day. Here’s how it fits into Meach’s routine.

TODDLER WAKE-UP CALLS AND AI-POWERED TO-DO LISTS

“Well, most days it starts by getting yelled at by a toddler,” Meach joked.

He hasn’t found an AI solution for that yet, but he has found plenty of ways to make the rest of his morning easier.

Scheduled AI prompts and automated workflows help Meach prepare for the day ahead. When he gets to the office, he can review a briefing that compares his planned priorities with new commitments and tasks that need his attention.

He also receives a daily roundup of technology headlines, with quick summaries and links to stories he wants to explore further.

A SECOND SET OF EYES

Meach often uses AI as a sounding board. He calls it a way to “rubber duck” his thinking: talking through a problem, explaining his approach, and considering another way to tackle it.

His team asks AI to question software design decisions, help automate testing, and build features for the applications they support. Recently, they used AI to help build a dashboard that tracks AI usage.

“It’s really become a partner in how I work and how I try to meet the needs of our business,” he said.

That includes work beyond software development. This year, Meach is the hiring manager for all of Textron Aviation’s IT intern openings. Keeping track of interviews, offers, pre-employment checks, and acceptances adds up. A weekly AI summary helps him see where things stand, what he needs to follow up on, and what to share with his colleagues.

He doesn’t expect the first response to get everything right. He regularly adds context, asks follow-up questions, and changes his instructions.

AN INBOX DATING BACK TO HIGH SCHOOL

Meach has had the same personal email account since high school. Like many people, he’s watched the messages pile up over the years. Now, a scheduled AI prompt gives him an evening rundown of what he missed and what needs his attention.t helps with thoughtful gift ideas, too.

Each morning, he gets suggestions for his family. When something catches his eye, he has it saved to his notes for later.

CHECKING IN ON HIS OWN GOALS

Meach also uses AI to follow through on his career development plan. Each week, an automated workflow reviews his goals and gives him a summary of where he’s on track, where he needs to focus, and what he could approach differently.

It’s one way he makes time for his own learning while keeping up with the rest of his responsibilities.

“The biggest impact has been pushing me to be more curious and exploratory, and at the same time more present,” he said.

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