The Evolution of Work in the Age of Gen AI: an Age of Thinkers

On the very first page of The great acceleration: CIO perspectives on generative AI , a new MIT Technology Review Insights report based on interviews with the CIOs of Adobe, Shell, DuPont, and others, a scary stastic read: McKinsey Global projects that AI will automate half of all work between 2040 and 2060, with generative AI pushing that window a decade earlier than previous estimates (1). But as you continue to read, you begin to gain the understanding of how even though AI feels like a scary intrusion to our lives, most of that anxiety comes from the uncertainty of where this transition period will end up and how the future of work will look in the age of AI.

To me this much is true: in the ever-evolving landscape of technology, generative AI stands as a pivotal force reshaping how we perceive work, productivity, and innovation. With AI shouldering an increasing share of tasks once performed by people, the paradigm of work is shifting towards a realm where we are pushed to become thinkers rather than mere doers.

In this era of AI-driven automation and efficiency, the market is undergoing a transformation, redefining the skills and qualities it values most. As AI optimizes team dynamics and streamlines processes, it has the potential to liberate people, granting us the bandwidth to delve deeper into creative endeavors and strategic thinking. And it is not an option, the train is already running. An Accenture analysis determined that 40% of working hours across industries could be automated or augmented by generative AI, with banking, insurance, capital markets, and software showing the highest potential (2). McKinsey projects that generative AI and related technologies could automate activities that currently take up 60 to 70% of worker time—up from 50% before the advent of generative AI (3).

So the question is this, what do we choose to do with all that time?

Consider the trajectory of social media, which empowered users to transform ideas into trends and lucrative businesses. With the advent of AI, this potential for transformative innovation gets amplified. AI doesn't just automate repetitive tasks; it augments human capabilities, enabling us to dream bigger, explore untapped possibilities, and catalyze meaningful change. As more and more gen AI tools become available for the masses, we get that much more potential for creative idea generation, using AI for execution. Have an idea for a game? or an app? or maybe you want to use OpenAI's Sora to create a video explaining what singularity means to a class of 10 year olds... the possibilities are endless.

Yet, amidst the boundless promise of AI-enabled innovation, echoes the timeless quote by uncle Ben, "With great power comes great responsibility." Here, I want to state another quote to express a somewhat controversial thought, from one of the most hated characters in the Harry Potter Universe "Progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged". And I share that sentiment. What I mean is this;

The pivotal question we face is not merely what gen AI can do for us, but rather, how we choose to wield this transformative technology.

In a landscape where virtually anything is within the realm of possibility, the onus falls upon us to make thought out decisions about which ideas merit pursuit and which avenues align with our collective values and aspirations. The democratization of gen AI opens doors to unprecedented opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and progress. Yet, it also necessitates a collective introspection, prompting us to contemplate the ethical, social, and environmental implications of our technological pursuits.

In harnessing the power of AI, we are presented with the responsibility to leverage technology as a catalyst for positive change and to cultivate a culture of responsible innovation.

In this journey from doers to thinkers, AI serves not merely as a tool of automation, but as a catalyst for human ingenuity and creativity. As we navigate the uncharted waters of the AI-driven future, let us remember the lessons of the past and create a path that embodies the very best of human potential—a future where innovation serves as a force for good, and progress is measured not merely by what we can achieve, but by the values we uphold along the way. Social media was too new and too exciting to control and not experiment with. We need to try it out and see the potential it had. But with gen AI the possibilities are infinite, so we need to make smarter decisions about how we channel it for the common good.

In the crucible of possibility, let us dare to dream, to innovate, and to aspire towards a future where the limitless potential of AI is harnessed in service of humanity's collective well-being. After all, in the age of gen AI, the true measure of progress lies not in what we can imagine, but in what we choose to create.

(1)“The economic potential of generative AI,” McKinsey & Company, June 14, 2023, https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/the-economic-potential-of-generative-ai-the-next-productivity-frontier#/

(2) “Gen AI LLM—A new era of generative AI for everyone,” Accenture, April 17, 2023, https://www.accenture.com/content/dam/accenture/final/accenture-com/document/Accenture-A-New-Era-of-Generative-AI-for-Everyone.pdf.

(3) “The economic potential of generative AI,” McKinsey & Company, June 14, 2023, https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/the-economic-potential-of-generative-ai-the-next-productivity-frontier#/.