WORK IN THE AI ERA.

In the 24/7 hustle of today's digital world, the speed of work seems to have outpaced our ability to keep up. According to a recent Microsoft survey (link below) of 31K workers and trillions of data points, we spend more and more time each day "separating the signal from the noise."

We are continually swamped with an ever-growing mountain of data and an endless stream of communication and meetings, making it a herculean task to stay afloat and perform effectively at work. Oracle's report on 'The Decision Dilemma' showed that 91% of workers had seen the number of decisions they make every day increase 10x over the last three years.

A recent Microsoft report shows workers are on their last [non-digital] legs. The weight of the workday has shifted for many employees from building/creating to communicating. Of course, collaboration and partnership are critical to moving complex initiatives over the finish line, but 68% of people say they need more uninterrupted focus time during the workday. While the new way of working with COVID shifted HOW we work and gave flexibility and reduced commute times, it also increased digital access. It left many workers feeling like meetings were taking over the workplace.

AI promises to liberate humans from dull and drudgerous work so we can engage in more innovative and strategic endeavors. Imagine AI generating meeting transcripts, breaking language barriers with instant translation, or unveiling insightful patterns hidden in complex data. Such capabilities could propel our understanding, decision-making, and collaboration to entirely new heights.

Contrary to the fear that AI is a job killer, it seems increasingly likely that it's an opportunity enhancer. By automating tasks and revolutionizing communication, AI can make us more productive, fostering creativity rather than stifling it.

Admittedly, this perspective paints a glass-half-full picture of AI's potential in the workplace; it's essential to acknowledge that AI is in the 'AOL Days' of the internet (e.g., its infancy). We must confront and surmount several challenges before AI becomes our ubiquitous ally in the workplace. We need new guard rails for how companies will adopt AI technology, additional training will need to be rolled out so we can use AI effectively and safely, and our ability to explain what's happening under the hood must be clarified before it's used in sensitive and high-risk use cases.

Despite these hurdles, the potential rewards of incorporating AI in the workplace are staggering. AI promises a paradigm shift towards heightened productivity, creativity, and efficiency. It will also shift HOW we work substantially. If you thought moving to Agile was a significant change, prepare for the next frontier of the AI-first workplace.