LinkedIn and the news is being bombarded with a message at the moment: AI is coming for your jobs… Is this the reality? Or just overpromised tech and fear mongering?
In truth, I’m finding it hard to not get completely swept away dreaming about the possibilities, but I think it’s important that we keep a level head and balance the new technology against a base of business pragmatism. I think we need to be having a more nuanced conversation here (something I wish people were able to do in all areas of life) and ask:
❓ Are we really on the cusp of an AI army replacing humans wholesale? ❓
AI Capabilities vs. Human Insight
My take: Whilst AI technology is blowing my mind pretty much every day, I believe the reality of AI replacing humans 1:1 is more complex than people often give it credit for. AI’s ability to mimic true human interaction and thought processes is continuing to improve, BUT genuine human insight, adaptability in novel situations and deep contextual understanding remain incredibly hard to authentically replicate.
The implication then, is that when I look at AI today, the possibility of it replacing humans 1:1 still feels distant for many roles requiring complex decision-making and creativity.
So, What’s the Strategic Play with AI Agents Today?
It’s Amplification, not just Automation.
AI’s immediate superpower lies in its capacity to massively boost the productivity of nearly anyone working with digital information. Agents are exceptionally good at:
- ✅ Handling high-volume, repetitive tasks, even with slight variations.
- ✅ Processing and summarizing vast amounts of data quickly.
- ✅ Executing rule-based processes tirelessly.
Given this, whilst I don’t think AI will replace humans 1:1 across the board, the possibility of AI enhancing a team of people is definitely on the horizon. Agentic AI implemented correctly is fully capable of boosting a team’s performance to a point where they could potentially drop an FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) from their headcount and still hit the same output.
(Whether they’d want to do that, or keep the same people and instead drive towards higher productivity, is probably a matter of whether that team is viewed as a cost centre or a profit centre – a crucial strategic consideration.)
🗒️ In Summary 🗒️
For now, the most effective approach seems to be viewing AI agents less as replacements and more as powerful collaborators. By focusing them on specific, burdensome tasks within larger workflows, we free up human capacity for higher-value strategic work, problem-solving, and innovation – areas where we (humans) still hold a distinct advantage.
Let’s target the admin, not the expertise.