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Twitter Share to Linkedin Sanjay, Founder of Runday.AI, is a 7 time AI serial entrepreneur with 3 exits. While sci-fi films such as I,
Robot represent AI workers as an element of a dystopian future we are inevitably moving toward, there are two important things to consider. • The AI workforce is, in fact, not a product of fiction. It’s real—and it’s possible today. • This future is not dystopian; I believe it’s full of untapped potential for better business outcomes in the short and long term. In particular, with the
explosion and rapid adoption of generative AI and large language models (LLMs) at scale, this opportunity is more tangible than ever. Tools like ChatGPT, Llama and Claude serve as real examples of how technology has taken on a near-human shape in its ability to think critically and deliver accurate answers to prompts. It's no surprise that the next generation of AI assistants is different from the Siris, Alexas and Cortanas we so frequently associate with potential digital employees. Today, AI is capable of skills beyond basic tasks, including full functions across a variety of departments, from finance to operations and marketing. Building a team that has both digital and human employees in the workforce has become a strong path to success in building an enterprise. The key here is a leader's ability to evaluate where digital employees can drive more impact and where human employees need to step in with their agency and judgment to drive projects or initiatives home.
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Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, Pixel Watch Trump Posts 175 Million Bond Thanks To Billionaire Don Hankey Caitlin Clark Erupts For 41 Points As Iowa Advances To Final Four With Revenge Win Over LSU Reducing Human Intervention If the introduction hasn’t made it clear enough, I believe incorporating AI as a life force into the foundation of any new or legacy company is the only way to ensure survival (and evolution) in a market that’s only going to grow more competitive. Success will be based on the rate—and operational acumen—at which a company will utilize AI in balance with human teams. Understanding the ideal formula for efficiency and high profitability is the ultimate goal here. This is where AI can play a crucial role by taking over tasks traditionally handled by humans. Businesses need to identify which roles must remain within the domain of human labor and determine how much of the workload can be delegated to digital employees. AI is a strong candidate when it comes to tasks that require fast computing, data analysis, pattern recognition, automation or computational intelligence beyond a human brain's capabilities. Where Human Intelligence Comes In Once the ownership area for the digital workforce is defined, it’s important to do the same exercise for the human employees to be added to the team. As a rule of thumb, AI is best suited for tasks that are routine, involve execution and require low human involvement, while human employees should primarily focus on activities such as thought leadership, strategic thinking, communication and decision-making. Beyond traditional managerial responsibilities, human employees should consistently provide creative insight and emotional intelligence essential for navigating complex business relationships and situations when necessary—something still too early to rely on AI for at the moment. The secret sauce lies in balancing the efficiency of a digital workforce with human ingenuity for sustainable growth and a positive brand image. Enhancing Performance Across The Board Leadership should not only believe in the role of digital workers but also encourage buy-in from the rest of the employees. It's essential to effectively communicate how AI contributions can complement human functions within the company. For example, a marketer could use AI for outlining creative briefs, ideating copy, generating blog outlines and research and even preliminary campaign planning. However, the final ad copy and creative, blog or campaign will be, by design, finalized by the human employee, simply because it requires human expertise to account for the right message, the right timing, the right audience and the most relevant angle. At the end of the day, a positive output will only result from an effective collaboration between digital and human resources, which means it’s important to train, encourage and educate human employees about the right role digital employees will play. Financial Benefits Cost-effectiveness is one major aspect of building a digital workforce—and it begins at the moment when the exact area of ownership for AI is defined. Knowing exactly where digital workers drive impact allows companies to hire more effectively and for more precise skills that will work in tandem with the digital employee team. Digital employees are also fast and easy to train in any direction needed with the right dataset input, which operationally allows more flexibility in hiring, emergency out-of-office situations and more. Last but not least, thanks to AI’s ability to take on more administrative and repetitive tasks, as well as technology’s speed of execution, companies can benefit from higher output and work efficiency and, thus, more opportunities for additional revenue generation. Minimizing Risks AI-powered digital employees have unique pattern recognition capabilities, allowing successful businesses to develop proactive measures for identifying disruptions and threats (particularly security threats) ahead of time. This level of security can bring both internal and external benefits: On one hand, it allows for the proper protection of company intellectual property and assets, avoiding cybersecurity risks. On the other hand, it’s a powerful lever to pull for building consumer trust; the technology enables companies to offer a comparable level of security to their users as they do for their internal operations, ensuring that consumers feel valued and heard at all times. Considering (and investing in) a digital workforce might be nice to have at this moment, but soon enough, it will become a prerequisite for success. It’s not just a savvy decision to get ahead of the competition—it’s essential for sustained growth that compounds over time, thanks to the nature of AI to learn, evolve and improve. A digital AI-driven workforce ensures a DNA of growth for any enterprise, pulling the human workforce with it toward consistent improvement and growth. So, if you are looking for advice on how to build a billion-dollar empire with maximum efficiency, then hear this: Focus on creating a dynamic workforce that balances
Artificial intelligence with human judgment and creativity. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify? Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions