The Future of Workplace and our World – the AI Path
By Chief editor
Posted on January 10, 2025
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5 min read
Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t new, while it certainly has been pegged the most furiously progressing trend of recent times, we have had AI since early 1900s, from the time of Alan Turing, GPS mapping, the plagiarism and grammar checking tools, e-commerce chat boxes to so much more. It is only now though that AI is treading into the workplaces and our routine. In a Deloitte survey of 2022*, 91 percent business leaders had recorded that they were looking at an AI strategy which was spread across the organisation. AI in the workplace has been used in variety of ways, mainly to decrease human error, generate insights, cut costs and make financial sense, and include data-driven decisions for organisational success.
Leading the Way
Adoption of AI is evident in almost all sectors. From healthcare, human resources, call centres, start-ups to tech industry, it is everywhere. Some of the stellar examples include Google using AI in Google Maps to make commute easier. Open AI’s ChatGPT has revolutionised the way world is seeking answers to queries. Microsoft’s 365 suite introduced Cortana the personal productivity assistant. How can we forget Apple’s Siri, and the Amazon recommendations each time we log onto the portal to surf, shop or buy? While we think of robotics, many of us have used Roomba, iRobot’s smart vacuum or similar tools. We can’t deny that we too pass all our articles through Grammarly for the final touch.
Takeda, a global pharmaceutical company has been working on ethically using AI more making efficient drug discovery for some of the most complicated diseases in the world. PathAI brings AI into pathology, while Cruise is the first company to offer, wait for it, robotaxi services. Tesla on the other hand has four models that run on autonomous driving capabilities. General Motors is working at bringing together performance data, Machine Learning, driver behaviour data and more to strategize racing. The dating platform Hinge uses AI in its recommendation algorithms. Snapchat filters are another example. Interestingly even chains like Walmart use Machine Learning to support employees with data that helps them in restocking shelves.
AI brings in cutting edge tech to remote working across organisations, who amongst has not had a virtual meeting since 2020? HR departments are using AI for seamless and more effective hiring processes and talent retention. Organisations of all shapes and sizes are utilising AI.
The Incoming
While most of AI has been around for a while and the only addition is using them as specialised tools for performing specific tasks, the new wave of AI which is deemed more creative is Generative AI. It is a relatively new AI subset. This kind of AI can imagine, and create things that didn’t exist prior. If AI is a highly skilled talent, Generative AI is an innovator, an artist. The 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Report from Microsoft and LinkedIn observes that use of Generative AI is being practised by almost 75 percent of global knowledge workers. Infact Generative AI is pegged to be one of the most influential changes to workplaces since the industrial revolution.
The AI Discourse
While AI seems to provide immense value addition to a workplace, the danger of AI replacing human talent has been brewing for a while. How AI and human workers can co-exist in a workplace by evolving and adapting has encouraged very many research projects. What will raise the bar is AI aptitude, how experienced one is will always matter but what will also matter is one’s AI knowledge to navigate and steer through with this technology friend of ours.
What has caused human talent to raise doubts is the change in trends and routine for them with the advent of AI. It is to be acknowledge though that many AI functions still need human supervision. There is also a discourse on doubts, on the ethics, ingenuity and honest of AI decisions, responses and recommendations. Columbia Business School had indicated in their studies** that AI integration has affected performance, coordination and productivity in human workers.
What is important is steps taken by organisations to protect rights and interests of human talents. Algorithms still need the expertise and experience of human skilled talent to widen its benefit.
Future Forward
AI will not ‘replace’ humans, instead both humans and AI will over time have to work together to enhance capabilities and efficiently harness each other’s full potential. AI will always need an AI Ethicist. As they automate processes and bring down manual labour, human minds will be liberated to innovate. As they churn boundless amounts of data, humans will be able to make better decisions and as they help with clearer communication, humans will be able to etch new chapters in collaboration and in the future of workplaces.
