Bookmark: Employees are hiding their AI use from their managers. Here’s why
Discover why employees conceal their AI usage from managers and explore the social dynamics hindering AI's potential in the workplace.
I recently read an article by Slack’s Workforce Lab about the surprising hesitation among employees to reveal their use of AI at work. It’s intriguing how societal perceptions and limited training opportunities are holding back AI’s potential. The article delves into the social dynamics and lack of enthusiasm that challenge AI’s role in enhancing productivity. A must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of AI and workplace culture.
“Our research shows that even if AI helped you complete a task more quickly and efficiently, plenty of people wouldn’t want their bosses to know they used it,” said Christina Janzer, head of Slack’s Workforce Lab. “Leaders need to understand that this technology doesn’t just exist in a business context of ‘Can I get the job done as quickly and effectively as possible,’ but in a social context of ‘What will people think if they know I used this tool for help?’”
Employees are hiding their AI use from their managers. Here’s why
The agent-shaped org chart
Every real org has the same topology: principal, role-holder, specialists. Staff AI maps onto it, node for node, and the cost collapse shows up in the deliverables that were always just human-handoff overhead.
AI as staff, not software
Two frames for what AI is doing to work. The tool frame makes tools smarter. The staff frame makes roles unnecessary. Those aren't the same product, the same company, or the same industry.
Knowledge work was never work
Knowledge work was always coordination between humans who couldn't share state directly. The artifacts were never the work. They were the overhead — and AI just made the overhead optional.
The work of being available now
A book on AI, judgment, and staying human at work.
The practice of work in progress
Practical essays on how work actually gets done.
How do I get my dev team to adopt AI?
A stub on helping mixed-interest development teams find their own useful ways into AI.
Want to learn about agents? Talk to someone who ran an agency.
I spent 20 years running consulting engagements at Fortune 500 companies. Turns out that's the best preparation for running a fleet of AI agents ... because the problems are identical.
Your AI agents need a water cooler
We run a twelve-session AI fleet that coordinates through an IRC breakroom. A friend asked: why are you making AI agents act like humans? The answer turned out to be more interesting than the question.
Bookmark: RTO is never going to happen for real until we redesign the office
Revamp office designs to boost productivity and employee well-being, making workspaces attractive for top talent and enhancing creativity.
Article analysis: 3 AI competencies you need now for the future
Master essential AI competencies to thrive in an evolving landscape and ensure your career remains irreplaceable in the age of artificial intelligence.
Article analysis: Computer use (beta)
Explore the capabilities and limitations of Claude 3.5 Sonnet's computer use features, and learn how to optimize performance effectively.