The future of working with AI: don’t compete against it, lead better with its support

Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant promise of the future; it is a transformative force in the present. And while some organizations are still debating whether to jump on the bandwagon, others are already building the most advanced locomotives. That’s why the next five years will make the difference between leaders and laggards.

AI is not an existential threat to employment, but a strategic ally that can enhance human capabilities as well as redefine work as we know it. To avoid being left behind, it is crucial to accelerate effective implementation and cultural change. We have compiled all the necessary details to consider and provide you with the keys to help your company become a leader through AI.

We live on the threshold of a new labor era. If we have already gone through the industrial revolution, we are now in the midst of the great AI revolution. McKinsey estimates that global productivity could grow by $4.4 trillion thanks to its adoption in companies. However, only 1% of companies are considered AI mature, suggesting that the vast majority of the world’s companies are still in the early stages.

With the advent of powerful and efficient LLMs, we have entered a new era of IT, and therein lies the challenge as well, as the long-term potential of AI is huge, but the short-term benefits are more uncertain, leaving many companies hesitant to embark on this journey.

As mentioned above, over the next 3 years, 92% of companies plan to increase their investments in AI, but only a few report that AI is fully integrated into workflows and driving substantial business results.

At this point, a question arises: How can business leaders invest capital and bring their organizations closer to AI maturity?

AI is becoming much smarter than the models of just a couple of years ago, thanks, for example, to reasoning capabilities. These improve the technology when making complex decisions, allowing models to go beyond basic understanding to nuanced understanding and the ability to create step-by-step plans to achieve goals.

Companies can refine reasoning models and integrate them with domain-specific knowledge to deliver actionable information with greater accuracy.

In addition, studies show that employees are ready for AI, are familiar with it, but want more support and training, so business leaders need to step up.

In a survey conducted by McKinsey, it could be seen that 94% of employees and 99% of executives have some level of familiarity with current generative AI tools. However, business leaders underestimate their employees’ use of it: they think that only 4% of employees use AI for at least 30% of their daily work, when in reality, that percentage is three times higher.

With the impact of AI on the workplace clear, now is the time for companies to invest in the training that will help them succeed.

The survey also found that millennials are the most active generation in the use of AI, with 62% of employees having a high level of expertise, compared to 50% of Generation Z and 22% of baby boomers. By harnessing that enthusiasm and experience, leaders can help millennials play a crucial role in AI adoption

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Agentic AI or GenAI has unprecedented reasoning capabilities that enable models to act autonomously and complete complex tasks in different workflows.

Software companies are integrating agentic AI capabilities into their core products, and the multimodality of models is further enhancing their performance and use cases.

Forbes anticipates a future where human and artificial intelligence collaborate to make organizations more efficient, innovative, and resilient. As such, companies that harmoniously integrate AI into everyday workflows will be at a competitive advantage.

To take full advantage of AI’s potential, companies and professionals must proactively prepare for the changes it brings:

1. Continuous learning and improvement: The rapid development of AI requires continuous learning, so it is very important for companies to invest not only in the technology but also in courses, workshops, and certifications that equip employees with the necessary knowledge to work effectively and safely with AI tools.
2. Adopt a growth mindset: This type of mindset is crucial for adapting to technological change. As such, fostering a culture of innovation and experimentation helps companies stay ahead of the curve.
3. Ethical AI: As AI becomes increasingly integrated into business operations, it is critical to prioritize ethical considerations. To this end, clear guidelines for the ethical use of AI must be established, ensuring transparency, fairness, and accountability.
4. Collaboration between humans and AI: As we have discussed throughout the article, rather than considering AI as a competitor, companies should encourage collaboration between the two. A very beneficial approach would be to task AI with repetitive tasks to allow workers to focus on strategic decision making, creativity, and innovation.

An ILO study on the effects of generative AI on the labor market reveals that, at most, 2.3% of jobs worldwide have the potential for full automation. And, in fact, this 2.3% does not include the many jobs that will be created thanks to new emerging technologies and those that we do not even know about yet.

On top of this, we find that robots are advancing in industrial, logistics, and service tasks. Their integration requires not only technological investment but also process design, continuous training, and responsible governance. It is not a matter of replacing people, but of increasing their capabilities: “superagency” includes humans and robots collaborating in cohesive, productive ecosystems.

In fact, we can already see several success stories of AI-driven robotics, such as Amazon, which uses more than 750,000 robots for tasks such as sorting, internal transportation, and inventory control. But it has also created 700,000 new human jobs to manage and complement these systems.

Another example is found in U.S. hospitals, where AI-equipped robots distribute medications and clean operating rooms. This frees up medical staff from these tasks so that they can focus on other tasks, such as care and diagnosis.

To achieve good results, the key lies in planning the human-robot coexistence from the design of processes and creating mixed teams and specific training.

The future of work in the age of AI is full of opportunities and challenges. Companies and professionals can navigate with confidence by transforming their processes, dispelling myths, and adopting a proactive approach.

In the workplace, AI will help improve productivity and creativity, help us gain new skills, become more confident, and achieve active leadership.

But it is not the only thing, as AI will also revolutionize (as it is already doing) life outside the workplace. There are already many examples of personal tools based on generative AI that accompany us in areas such as finance, personal development, or artistic creativity. With all this, technology will democratize services that previously required high cost or high specialization.

AI is not a threat, but a tool that, used ethically and strategically, can unleash new potential and drive unprecedented growth.

Our ability to adapt will be key to learning and innovating in harmony with AI. Therefore, it is key to look at the present and future with reality glasses that allow us to see what is happening with biases, invest in training and governance, develop a bold vision, and lead with speed and confidence.

The conclusion of all this is that AI does not replace people, it empowers them, so we must work with it, not against it. It’s not about competing with the machine; it’s about knowing how to manage it.

At Plain Concepts, we help you design your strategy, protect your environment, choose the best solutions, close technology and data gaps, and establish rigorous oversight that achieves accountable AI. So you can achieve rapid productivity gains and build the foundation for new business models based on hyper-personalization or continuous access to relevant data and information.

We have a team of experts who have been successfully applying this technology in numerous projects, ensuring the security of customers. We have been bringing AI to our clients for more than 10 years, and now we propose a Framework for the adoption of generative AI:

• Unlock the potential of end-to-end generative AI.
• Accelerate your AI journey with our experts.
• Understand how your data should be structured and governed.
• Explore generative AI use cases that fit your goals.
• Create a tailored plan with realistic timelines and estimates.
• Build the patterns, processes, and teams you need.
• Deploy AI solutions to support your digital transformation.

Don’t wait any longer to make AI your best ally!