Generative AI is making waves in workplaces, evolving from a handy tool for individual tasks into a collaborative partner that works with entire teams. Aparna Chennapragada, Microsoft’s Chief Product Officer for Experiences and Devices, points out that AI is shifting gears from just creating content to becoming a ‘thought partner.’ This means it’s now helping leaders make strategic decisions, thanks to its advanced reasoning skills.
Initially, AI found its place in existing applications like Microsoft Copilot, which helps summarize meetings and draft emails. But now, the spotlight is on how AI can boost teamwork. Imagine AI as a ‘digital chief of staff,’ overseeing specialized AI agents that handle routine tasks. This frees up human employees to focus on creativity and strategy.
At the recent HumanX conference in Las Vegas, Microsoft unveiled plans for a new initiative. This combines AI’s deep reasoning with enterprise knowledge graphs to create custom AI agents. The goal? To take repetitive tasks off employees’ plates, letting AI handle the routine stuff.
AI’s acceptance in the workplace is on the rise. While many employees used AI tools without their employer’s knowledge, a recent Microsoft study found that over 80% of employees now use AI at work. However, only half feel comfortable telling their managers about it. This is changing as CIOs work to balance AI’s benefits with compliance and governance.
Jerry Dischler, Google’s President of Cloud Applications, mentioned that cost concerns have slowed AI adoption. But enhancements to Google’s base products have led to a big jump in AI usage, showing that there’s a growing belief in its strategic value—provided the right safeguards are in place.
Despite the excitement, companies still face challenges like information overload and figuring out what to do after getting AI-generated insights. Improving user interfaces is also on the agenda. Chennapragada likened the current chat interfaces to ‘an AOL dial-up to superintelligence,’ highlighting the need for a more user-friendly experience.
Looking ahead, AI is set to become even more autonomous. Dischler expects significant advancements in AI capabilities with minimal human input over the next couple of years. Chennapragada predicts that job roles will evolve, with employees managing AI agents, transforming how workplaces operate.
