As workplaces adapt to rapid technological advancements, Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands at the forefront, offering both challenges and opportunities for businesses worldwide. According to Harvard Business Review, “40% of all U.S. work activity can be augmented, automated, or reinvented with generative AI.” Once limited to tech experts, AI is now accessible to everyone through intuitive tools that use everyday language rather than complex coding.
Empowering not replacing the modern workplace
As workplaces adapt to rapid technological advancements, Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands at the forefront, offering both challenges and opportunities for businesses worldwide. According to Harvard Business Review, “40% of all U.S. work activity can be augmented, automated, or reinvented with generative AI.” Once limited to tech experts, AI is now accessible to everyone through intuitive tools that use everyday language rather than complex coding.
In a recent Future of Work Hub In Conversation… podcast, Dr. Vivienne Ming, neuroscientist, entrepreneur and co-founder of Socos Labs explored the role of AI in the workplace providing a refreshing perspective on using AI as a powerful tool to enhance human potential rather than one that simply aims to automate tasks.
Augment, collaborate, create
“AI is changing the way we work,” says Dr Ming, "but it’s vital to see AI as a tool for augmentation, not as a replacement." She argues that instead of only using AI to increase productivity by handling basic tasks, businesses should focus on using it to empower employees - helping them develop skills, refine their expertise, and ultimately, excel at their craft. Dr Ming envisions a future where AI supports humans by tackling routine processes, enabling people to channel their unique creativity and strategic thinking-qualities that no machine can replicate.
“Creativity and strategy are born from individual experiences and they’re critical for building any successful business. By delegating routine tasks to AI, we create more space for human ideas.”
Fusion Skills
To harness the potential of AI-human collaboration, a recent Harvard Business Review article by H. James Wilson and Paul Daugherty introduces “AI Fusion Skills” as essential competencies for businesses to effectively and strategically integrate generative AI into the workforce. These skills include intelligent interrogation (collaborating with AI for enhanced thinking), judgment integration (applying human discernment), and reciprocal apprenticing (training AI to act as a co-creator).
Productive Friction: AI as a catalyst for professional growth
Dr. Ming champions the idea of Productive Friction, a concept where we use AI to help us think differently, dig deeper and ultimately become better creators, learners, and innovators. By testing human ideas against machine-generated insights, employees can think more critically and engage in continuous skill development. “It’s about comparing our ideas with those AI generates,” Dr. Ming notes, “and using that tension to drive better questions and better insights.” This approach fosters a work culture where AI pushes us towards higher-quality work rather than merely faster outputs.
‘Productive Friction’, according to Dr. Ming, is about more than just efficiency. It’s about creating environments where AI enhances professional growth, contributing to a more fulfilling workplace.
Balancing automation and meaningful work
While AI presents numerous benefits, Dr. Ming acknowledges potential downsides, particularly around job satisfaction and identity. She cautions that over-reliance on AI could diminish the sense of accomplishment employees feel. Finding the right balance between automation and preserving meaningful work will be crucial, as excessive automation could strip away purpose. “It’s essential to use AI as a tool for success without compromising the culture and identity of the business,” Dr. Ming suggests.
AI as a driver of purpose and empowerment
As AI becomes a more significant part of the workplace, Dr. Ming’s insights remind us of its potential to enable creativity, critical thinking and purpose. The challenge, she notes, lies in thoughtfully integrating AI so that it amplifies human capabilities rather than undermining them. With mindful application, AI has the power to help build a resilient and human-centred work environment, ensuring that technology remains a tool to enhance human potential rather than replace it.
Listen to the full Future of Work Hub’s podcast: In Conversation… with Dr. Vivienne Ming, Co-founder of Socos Labs here.