Introducing AI into business means rethinking traditional organizational charts, writes BI’s Lakshmi Varanasi.
The “Great Flat” is still all the rage, but the rise of AI agents will require its management and monitoring.
Some believe that individual contributors should take on more responsibility for managing AI agents. This kind of blurring of boundaries is becoming more common. For example, McKinsey is looking for “5Xers,” people who can work deeply on one topic while also doing several other things well.
Some believe that the era of so-called “giant managers” may be upon us.
Before you start tossing out your old management textbooks, understand that this is not the type of manager your parents were. When it comes to AI agents, many of the management needs are more about hard technical skills than soft skills. Cyber risk in particular remains at the top of the list of concerns for AI agents.
(That said, as technology continues to develop, no one knows whether AI will eventually develop the emotions and consciousness that humans need to deal with.)
There will probably be some level of human control, but the focus will likely be on understanding how to effectively team AI agents with real workers.
There’s another reason to rely on AI agent management.
Companies want their employees to do more than just use AI. They assess whether employees truly understand the technology, Lakshmi writes, and whether they can effectively apply it where it’s needed.
Basically, knowing the answer is not enough. Next, you need to display your work.
For workers who are already navigating the recent onslaught of change, this may sound like another big hurdle. But managing AI agents could be a solution.
By gaining hands-on experience supervising and coordinating these agents, employees gain a deeper understanding of the technology. It’s not just about incorporating AI tools into your workflow. Constant interaction can help employees become more aware of an agent’s biases and blind spots.
All that experience can make them even more valuable to the company. Probably don’t tell your agent Too good.
Otherwise, you may become the reporter.
