AI talent onboarding: How digital agents are redefining work itself

AI is rapidly evolving and poised to transform the workplace in ways that were considered science fiction just a few years ago. For example, Google recently notebook LMan AI-powered research assistant and note-taking tool; Audio overview Convert documents into audio discussions. Writing in progress Ars TechnicaKyle Orlando describes how he used this feature to create an “amazingly compelling” 12.5-minute podcast-style conversation about a book he wrote. It was a conversation “between two people who don’t exist.”

This highlights a broader trend of AI evolving to replicate human-like behavior. This development will soon reshape how business works and how employees interact with technology.

NotebookLM uses Google’s Gemini gen AI Large-Scale Language Model (LLM) and combines it with the latest AI-generated speech capabilities. On how well this works, Graham Barlow writes: tech radar: “[The bots] They speak about their subject matter with passion and authority, sound enthusiastic and interested, and address each other in a breathtakingly natural way. There are small sniffles, slight mispronunciations, slurs, and even a small laugh, all of which sound completely human. ”

This is just one of the many ways the AI ​​revolution is taking shape.

AI still faces challenges such as hallucinations and inherent biases in training data. As these issues are alleviated or ideally resolved, the role of AI will move from automating simple tasks to reshaping the way we work, the way businesses operate, and the way employees interact with technology. We will continue to expand.

From AI-driven decision-making to increasingly immersive customer experiences digital human (synthetic works that emulate humans in appearance, mannerisms, and voice on devices), the future of work will be more efficient, more creative, and perhaps even more human-centered than we currently imagine. It will become a thing. Here are some of the upcoming changes:

AI in 2030: The power of transformation

1. AI agents are essential team members

By 2030, AI agents will be fully integrated into enterprise operations, acting as collaborative team members rather than simple task handlers. AI agents are software entities that complete tasks autonomously and increasingly collaborate with other agents to accomplish complex goals, often using machine learning or rule-based systems. Masu.

Today’s AI systems can help improve processes, but in the future they will take on more complex roles. In areas such as customer service, logistics, and project management, AI agents manage day-to-day operations while providing real-time insights and analysis to human employees. New “o1” with the ability to handle complex tasks model The development of OpenAI takes this functionality even further.

2. Emergence of digital humans

Digital humans (lifelike, AI-powered avatars that can interact in real-time) are starting to emerge in customer service and sales, and their impact will be profound by 2030. It features highly realistic facial expressions and natural language processing (NLP). Equipped with human-like speech, these avatars can act as front-line customer service agents, onboarding specialists, inside sales reps, and even virtual brand ambassadors.

For example, when a customer interacts with a brand’s website or call center in 2030, they may be greeted by a digital human who can understand their needs, recall past interactions, and solve problems using an intuitive, conversational approach. I don’t know. This can be a huge improvement over the numbing or exasperating customer support that most of us experience on a daily basis today.

Unlike current AI chatbots, these systems will be less transactional and more like human-to-human communication. However, as AI systems become indistinguishable from human interaction, companies need to clearly indicate when AI is involved to support transparency and trust in customer relationships. My guess is that most people would be happy to interact with AI if it could solve a problem with less friction.

3. AI-powered voice and conversation interface

By 2030, fully human-like, interactive voices will be ubiquitous in customer service, company meetings, and even creative brainstorming sessions. AI-powered voices are indistinguishable from human voices, allowing for fluid and natural conversations. As VentureBeat reported last week, the newly available ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode with nine different voices is an early instance of this feature.

With this and other advances since launch, fumeAI systems will begin to integrate seamlessly into daily operations, guiding customers through processes, answering complex questions, and even joining meetings as conversation partners. recent Tom’s Guide Headings This feature is summarized as follows: “When I talked to Hume’s new AI voice assistant, I forgot it wasn’t human.”

4. AI-enhanced decision-making and leadership

As AI-powered digital humans enhance customer interactions by emulating human behavior, learn how AI is reshaping decision-making across organizations and providing leaders with real-time insights and strategic support. The far-reaching impact of AI will become clear in terms of delivery. AI not only streamlines tasks, but also provides executives with real-time dashboards, predictive analytics, and scenario planning capabilities, helping leaders make data-driven decisions faster and more effectively. In this context, AI becomes more than just a tool, but an advisor, able to provide insights that guide strategy.

For example, an AI-powered digital assistant can participate in leadership meetings and make real-time suggestions or run simulations based on ongoing discussions. Some companies are already appointing AI bots to roles such as: board observer And we are putting technology at the heart of our board’s strategic activities.

5. Innovation and research using AI

In the coming years, AI-driven simulation and predictive modeling will become important for testing new products, business models, and market strategies. This is already happening in the form of digital twins, but more and more companies are relying on AI to glean insights, predict trends, and refine prototypes before they go into production.

AI also enhances creativity and collaboration. For example, during brainstorming sessions, AI systems suggest ideas drawn from large datasets and global trends to help human teams gain new insights. When combined with digital humans and AI-driven conversational interfaces, teams can engage in dynamic, cross-disciplinary discussions that push the boundaries of innovation.

6. Changing nature of work roles and skills

As AI takes over mundane and data-intensive tasks, the nature of jobs will shift toward surveillance, creativity, and human-centered skills. AI trainers, ethics officers, and AI maintenance experts are critical to ensuring that AI systems run effectively and ethically. These are some of the new jobs that will be created as AI becomes more prevalent in the workplace. Continuous reskilling will become the norm as the workforce adapts to rapid advances in AI technology.

Human abilities such as creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence will continue to be invaluable. AI may manage analytics and data, but humans will need to drive strategic vision, ethical considerations, and empathetic customer care.

To realize the full potential of AI while mitigating its risks, companies must not only invest in the technology itself, but also ensure its ethical use and a workforce that can work effectively with AI systems. To do so, they must invest in a robust AI governance framework and continuous retraining programs.

Prepare for an AI-driven future

As Google’s NotebookLM and OpenAI’s Advanced Voice Mode demonstrate AI’s increasing ability to emulate human behavior, the coming years will see companies leveraging these technologies in ways that will reshape industries. It will be. From the perspective of venture companies Sequoia Capital: “Every industry that requires humans to create original work, from social media to gaming, advertising to architecture, coding to graphic design, product design to law, marketing to sales, has room for reinvention.”

Companies that pioneered AI adoption are now widely deploying this technology. for example, HBR reported Moderna’s ChatGPT deployment has resulted in over 750 custom GPTs developed across business functions, with each user having an average of 120 ChatGPT enterprise conversations per week. Companies that are slow to adopt AI risk falling behind in both innovation and competitiveness.

By 2030, AI will evolve from back-office assistant to front-line collaborator in most businesses and nearly every aspect of business operations. Employees who embrace AI as a partner rather than a competitor will thrive in this new environment.

A big ongoing concern is the potential for human employees to be replaced by AI. One group of employees that may be particularly at risk are entry-level white-collar employees. But a new poll of more than 2,100 interns at investment banking firm Goldman Sachs suggests the opposite. as Quartz reportednearly all of investment banking’s newest interns, 93%, believe AI will enhance, rather than replace, their jobs.

A commonly used but applicable quote today is: “AI will not replace employees. But employees who use AI will replace employees who do not use AI.” As proof, Microsoft and LinkedIn’s 2024 work trend index We found that 71% of business leaders would rather hire a junior candidate with AI skills than an experienced candidate without them.

For companies, this means proactively investing in reskilling efforts and building strong AI to ensure that AI not only improves productivity, but also meets ethical standards and increases customer trust. It means establishing governance. Strong AI governance requires clear accountability for AI-driven decision-making, protection against bias, and strict adherence to data privacy standards that support trust and transparency. IBM offers: good example. The company has set up a comprehensive framework that emphasizes accountability, bias reduction, and data privacy to foster trust and transparency in AI-driven deliverables.

On the precipice of change

For those of us on the cusp of this AI-driven future, the workplace of 2030 will look fundamentally different than it is today. From transforming customer interactions with AI agents and digital humans to reimagining leadership with AI-enhanced decision-making, the potential for transformation is enormous.

But the real power of this revolution lies not in AI replacing humans, but in the symbiosis between human creativity and AI. The organizations and individuals who will succeed in this new environment will be those who embrace AI as a partner, continuously adapt their skills, and leverage technology to expand human potential.

Gary Grossman is Vice President of Technology Practice. edelman.