The most successful businesses will need to strike a balance — and quickly — between human capabilities and artificial intelligence, according to a new report from Microsoft. The tech giant surveyed 31,000 global workers and analyzed data from LinkedIn, Microsoft and other AI startups to visualize what’s in store for the future of work. They predict the emergence of a “Frontier Firm”: Hybrid teams of humans and AI systems that can complete tasks autonomously, with limited in-person oversight. The desire for a more AI-powered workforce stems from an increasing push for greater workplace productivity: Microsoft’s report found that 53% of leaders say productivity within their business must increase, and 82% plan to use digital modes of labor to expand their workforce within the next 12-18 months. Currently, just a quarter of organizations are using AI company-wide, leaving plenty of room for growth in this area. Closing knowledge gaps and addressing AI anxiety will be pivotal toward getting buy-in from the top down. “Revolutionary changes have happened many times throughout history, and there has been a very clear pattern each and every time — the outcome will almost always eventually be positive,” Dimitris Tsingos, co-founder and president of workplace technology vendor Epignosis, previously told EBN. “AI will help us, not replace us. With more AI we’ll do our job better and easier in the future, and we’ll eventually yield better results.” The report predicts a gradual shift toward the Frontier Firm model. Employees will initially use AI assistants to help them work more efficiently and eliminate menial tasks. For example, employees are interrupted every two minutes during the workday — 275 times per day — by meetings, emails or chats. Post-work interruptions have increased 15% year-over-year. Smoothing workflows could help employees focus on more meaningful tasks, passing more work to AI agents functioning as “digital colleagues.” Leading companies like Wells Fargo, Accenture, and Dow are already implementing these models. For instance, Wells Fargo built an agent that responds to customer inquiries, reducing response time from 10 minutes to 30 seconds. Investment in upskilling and AI training is high, with 47% of leaders prioritizing workforce training, and 35% planning to hire AI trainers. Employees already see benefits: 30% believe AI helps them work faster and at higher quality, and 28% think AI generates endless ideas on demand. Preparing for this transformation involves managing AI securely and effectively, breaking down organizational silos, and fostering collaboration. Such strategies will determine how well companies transition into and thrive within this AI-enhanced future.
- 0 Comments
- hybrid teams