This WorkLab podcast episode interviews Azeem Azhar, an entrepreneur and author, about adapting businesses to rapid technological change, particularly the impact of generative AI. The conversation explores the differences between AI assistants and agents, highlighting agent-based workflows as a way to automate complex tasks. Azhar emphasizes the importance of leadership belief in AI's transformative potential, using the analogy of Henry Ford's adoption of electricity to illustrate how AI can fundamentally reshape business processes beyond simple cost-cutting measures. He advocates for using AI to enhance high-value tasks, improve strategic decision-making, and ultimately rehumanize work by freeing up time for more creative and fulfilling activities. A practical example provided is using AI to structure and prioritize tasks from unstructured thoughts, improving personal and work productivity.
