Startup Chief of Staff Integrates AI Agent for Operational Support

Kristi Edleson, chief of staff at Yutori, a San Francisco-based startup, utilizes an AI agent to assist with her extensive workload. Her company's core mission involves developing an AI chief of staff, a role Edleson now navigates directly.

Edleson describes her position as encompassing a wide range of operational duties, including daily operations, finance, HR, compliance, vendor communications, and contract negotiations. She integrates her AI chief of staff with various work tools, such as email, Slack, and calendars, allowing the agent to gather context and identify forgotten tasks. This integration enables her to delegate manual work, freeing her to address more significant challenges.

Finding the optimal balance between performing tasks herself and outsourcing them to the AI agent is a key aspect of her role. While she relies on the AI for numerous tasks, such as drafting emails and Slack messages, Edleson maintains final approval before anything is sent. She specifically avoids delegating financial responsibilities to the AI agent.

Edleson, who is the only non-technical staff member, does not view the AI agent as a replacement for her full role. Instead, she perceives it as a tool that augments her skills and allows her to provide valuable product feedback from an end-user perspective.

According to Business Insider, Edleson transitioned into this operational role in spring 2025, having previously worked in recruiting for a decade.