AUTHENTIC THOUGHTS
While many in the US enjoyed a President's Day holiday, at The Authentic AI, we believe the future of work, and the role of artificial intelligence, remains a hot topic for many professionals. We've witnessed how generative AI is rapidly transforming industries, from streamlining complex coding projects and automating tedious tasks to even crafting targeted pitches for speaking engagements. We feel the conversation has evolved from what AI can do, to what it should do, and how we, as leaders, can effectively navigate this evolving landscape. We ask ourselves: Are we prepared for the potential rise of professionals managing multiple roles thanks to AI-driven efficiency? How do we ensure our teams retain and cultivate essential human skills in an increasingly automated world? These are critical questions we must address.
At The Authentic AI, we see the impact of AI on sales and marketing as particularly multifaceted. As Gartner predicts, we're facing a future where AI can liberate professionals from routine tasks, potentially leading to scenarios where individuals manage multiple roles concurrently, even seeking "overemployment." We also see, as highlighted by the Financial Times, that the very nature of work is being redefined, with a critical need to consider task complexity, frequency, interconnectedness, and the cost of failure when implementing AI solutions. Furthermore, we see a growing emphasis on inclusivity, with businesses recognizing the importance of catering to diverse customer needs, including neurodiversity, as Gartner points out. However, we also recognize that this technological advancement brings a potential challenge: the risk of diminishing crucial interpersonal skills. As AI takes over repetitive tasks, we believe the uniquely human abilities of empathy, relationship building, and genuine connection become even more valuable. Therefore, while AI may be the latest innovation in our toolkits, at The Authentic AI, we believe the timeless power of human interaction remains paramount. We believe striking the right balance between leveraging AI's capabilities and nurturing essential human skills will be the key to success in this new era of work.
AUTHENTIC ARTICLES
How WSJ Readers Use AI at Work
The Wall Street Journal asked its readers how they use generative AI tools in their work. The responses show that many people are already using AI in a variety of ways to improve their productivity and efficiency. Some examples include using AI to create podcasts of lectures, automate scheduling, get answers to medical questions, check mathematical equations, and even write and edit documents. Overall, the article suggests that AI is already having a significant impact on the workplace and that this impact is likely to grow in the years to come.
Key Points:
AI is being used in a variety of professions. The article includes examples of people using AI in education, retail, healthcare, engineering, consulting, advertising, and journalism.
AI is helping people to do their jobs better and faster. For example, one person uses AI to create podcasts of their lectures in just a few minutes, while another uses AI to automate the scheduling of their field team.
AI is changing the way people work. For example, one person uses AI to check their mathematical equations, while another uses AI to write and edit documents.
Read More: The Wall Street Journal
The Jobs AI Can do — and those it shouldn’t
Generative AI's impact on work depends less on what it can do, and more on what it should do. Four key questions should guide automation decisions:
task complexity (complex tasks are less likely to be automated)
task frequency (high-frequency tasks are more likely to be automated)
task interconnectedness (high fragmentation costs discourage automation)
cost of failure (high failure costs discourage automation)
These factors explain why some jobs, like customer service representatives, are more susceptible to AI disruption than others, like emergency service dispatchers. Even traditionally automated roles like programmers are now facing disruption due to GenAI's increasing capabilities. GenAI's unique characteristics—managing complex tasks at high speed, seamless interfaces, and natural language processing—lower fragmentation costs but potentially increase failure risks. Ultimately, GenAI's adoption depends on balancing cost savings with hidden costs related to task structure.
Read More: Financial Times
Gartner Predicts 10% of Sales Associates Will Use AI to Secretly Juggle Multiple Jobs by 2028
The increasing use of AI in sales is predicted to have several significant effects. By 2028, 10% of sales professionals are expected to have so much free time due to AI automation that they will seek additional employment. Gartner suggests that Chief Sales Officers (CSOs) should address this by adjusting compensation plans to keep top talent engaged. Furthermore, the growing awareness of neurodiversity will push 25% of Fortune 500 companies to create buyer-facing content tailored to neurodivergent customers by 2029. However, this reliance on AI also poses a risk: by 2028, 30% of new sales hires will lack crucial social skills due to overdependence on technology. Organizations will need to invest in training to cultivate these interpersonal skills. The overall message emphasizes a shift towards human-centric sales approaches that prioritize genuine connections with customers.
Read More: Gartner