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AI changes work. Here’s how I think we should respond

Field notes • Oct 24, 2025

AI strategy

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I think AI changes the structure of work. It moves routine tasks to machines and gives people more time for judgment, client moments, and tricky cases. New roles also appear when we redesign workflows. The question is how fast we adapt.

What this means for workers

  • Use AI for first drafts and lookups. Spend your energy on clarity, decisions, and edge cases.
  • Practice the glue skills: synthesis, communication, taste, trust.
  • Keep proof of value: solved tasks per hour, quality, fewer reworks.
  • Aim for roles with humans in the loop: safety, sales, field service, compliance.

What this means for firms

  • Map the work as tasks. Give repeatable steps to AI. Keep a clear human backstop.
  • Measure cost per solved task; token cost alone says little about whether the work succeeded.
  • Rebuild the first rung on purpose with shadowing, simulations, and fast feedback.

The concern

Transitions can be bumpy. Some roles shrink and teams get restructured. I think the fix is speed: shorter training cycles, clearer paths, and tools that teach while doing.

The upside

When tasks get cheaper, we do more of them. Faster support means more customer touches. Cheaper analysis means more experiments. In my opinion this is where growth comes from.