How AI is making humans irreplaceable

In the news and industry panels, I keep hearing the same prediction: soon, AI is going to do most of our jobs.

Many companies are already scaling down their workforce. Amazon just let 14 thousand employees go. Salesforce, 4 thousand. Duolingo will start replacing contract workers with AI.

According to these trend-setters, the most successful companies will be those that use AI to increase production and hire fewer workers.

But I think this is a mistake.

The hidden costs of the AI revolution

In a recent study, many leaders admitted their staff cuts were based on assumptions about the future of AI rather than actual data.

So I’m not surprised that some are having regrets.

Up to 55% of leaders and recruiters wish they hadn’t gone through with their layoffs, because AI isn’t actually reducing the workload or increasing efficiency.

And by not focusing on human talent, businesses are setting themselves up for failure.

In another survey, nearly 70% of business leaders said that, because of AI, junior employees will have fewer opportunities for on-the-job training. If this continues, it will become more difficult to foster or hire leadership roles down the line.

This trend might also lead to a crisis of purpose among younger generations.

Gen Z are already feeling vulnerable. Nearly half don’t think they’re financially secure. And while most are using AI, they worry it will limit job opportunities.

That’s why I champion a different philosophy. While others replace humans with AI, I believe in using AI to make humans irreplaceable.

How Impact Score helps people thrive

If you want to stand out in tomorrow’s business world, you need to look beyond automation and efficiency. You need to focus on your human talent.

In a hybrid model, humans work alongside AI, but they still call the shots. Which is why we’re using AI to lift people up.

That’s what Impact Score is all about. Built at my company, Santex, it’s a platform that spotlights employee work, such as updates to source code.

By cross-referencing session data, client feedback, and more, it evaluates the quality and clarity of each contribution, and its effect on the business. It also celebrates achievements and offers suggestions for improvement.

To sum up, Impact Score sees what people are bringing to the table.

More than a platform, a statement of intent

When you increase transparency and visibility across your organization, everyone benefits.
Employees feel their work is being valued, while leaders understand how every contribution helps the organization reach its business goals.

Impact Score is how we’re achieving this holistic view.

It supports rising talent by ensuring good work does not go unnoticed. And allows leaders to recognize their team’s strengths and weaknesses, and help everyone improve.

While others calculate how many employees they can let go, we’re calculating how much talent we can empower.
In short, we’re using AI to prove why humans aren’t going anywhere. And why we need each other more than ever.

Always learning,
Walter

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According to many tech giants, the way of the future will be doing more with less, replacing people with AI and automating as many workflows as possible.

But at Santex, we’re going against the grain. We think AI is not here to replace humans. On the contrary, AI can show us why humans are irreplaceable and even empower them to be the best version of themselves. That’s what our Impact Score platform is all about. I talk about this and more in this month’s newsletter.