In the packed keynote theatre of Edinburgh’s EICC conference centre on 23 November, for the 2023 edition of DIGIT Expo, Alexia Cambon delved into the work dynamics through the lens of 2023’s great technological disrupter, generative AI.

While we’re still finding a post-pandemic balance to how and where we work, the introduction of AI into our daily ‘office’ routine has added another ‘dimension’ to our working lives.

One thing that Microsoft’s Cambon has disillusions about is that adding new ‘dimensions’ adds complexity, and complexity is a problem for leaders.

In her talk, Cambon took a deep dive into the breath-taking pace of AI adoption in the workplace, where it is causing problems and disillusion, and of course, also took a look at the technology’s transformative potential in streamlining our work processes.

Moving to ‘3D’ Work Environment

Although not a novel concept, AI is undergoing a revolutionary phase.

As Cambon says, “it is no longer confined to the realms of academia or specialised fields but is becoming accessible to every information worker.”

The crux of her narrative lay in the assertion that we are transitioning into a ‘three-dimensional’ working world, where human intelligence is complemented by the capabilities of artificial intelligence. Cambon’s outlook painted a picture of a future where AI stands alongside human intelligence, instead of as a disastrous overlord or a lowly assistant.

She said: “We are headed into a world now that has been two-dimensional, that will suddenly become three-dimensional. And by that I mean we now add artificial intelligence alongside human intelligence as a viable, accessible way of working,” she elucidated, capturing the essence of this paradigm shift.

Acknowledging the inevitable disorientation in the face of such transformative change, Cambon empathised with the audience, stating, “You would be forgiven for feeling a little bit dizzy.” The challenge, as she saw it, was the collective reckoning to sift through the dimensions and envision the future of work.

Cambon acknowledged the natural tendency for leaders to revert to simplicity to run their teams. Yet, she championed the inclusivity that multi-dimensionality brings, emphasising that the expanded dimensions cater to a broader spectrum of individuals and their optimal work designs – reinforcing the point through the lens of not just AI, but working models around the question of “where is my work?”

As in, what the optimal place and time for you to achieve the most at work? For some, it’s the drive home after dropping their kids at school, for others, it’s being at their work at the office.

AI’s Potential in the Workplace

The ‘wheres’ of work aside, Cambon exemplifies the transformative potential of AI through that it can tangibly improve in a working day. She did this by introducing three “work villains”: the broken meeting, the information labyrinth, and the blank page. These ‘villains’ represent the challenges that drain time and energy from employees, compelling organisations to find solutions.

“These are the villains. These are the thieves that are stealing your time and energy. You are not the problem. These guys are the problem,” Cambon declared, personifying the challenges faced by workers daily.

Regarding meetings, she lamented their outdated structure, emphasising that employees often attend to passively receive information rather than engage in collaborative endeavours. Imagine a world where missed meetings can be condensed easily, where information is already sifted through to lock into key information and minimise unnecessary tangents – this is just one of the many tangible possibilities AI is already offering in a work environment.

Cambon prophesied a future where AI transforms the purpose of meetings, making them more efficient and focused. The information labyrinth, a consequence of the plummeting costs of communication, was unveiled through employees estimating that half of the information they consume is unnecessary.

Finally, Cambon delved into the challenge of the blank page, highlighting the rarity of mental rest in contemporary work models. While advocating for a redesign of workloads to incorporate rest, she celebrated AI’s potential to assist in navigating the demands of constant creativity and ideation in an ever-connected world. Overall, Cambon’s insights showcased the transformative power of AI in reshaping the dimensions of work, offering solutions to age-old challenges and paving the way for a more intentional and productive future.

This naturally dove-tailed into the most pivotal question, how do we prudently reallocated of the time and energy refunded by AI. “How are we going to use that refunded time and energy?” Cambon queried, asserting that the answer would delineate the future of work.

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“AI, a new dimension of work, not just a tool. Time and energy deficiency, something we need to be thinking very carefully about, identifying the key broken work patterns that are causing it, and then reallocating time and energy in a way that is really driving value for the business, whatever that means for you or for your business.”

Presenting a hypothetical scenario, Cambon said: “Imagine a world in which the meeting had never been invented, the office had never been invented, today is day one in the history of work. How would you design how you work?”

This exercise, she suggested, might guide us in designing a more intentional and effective future of work.