Labor Day has long recognized the contributions of workers to the economy. With AI agents increasingly part of the workforce, what will human contribution look like?
As AI takes rote tasks off employees’ plates, the work that remains can require greater judgment and critical thinking—and be more cognitively demanding. “The rise of AI doesn’t mean we all suddenly delegate our responsibilities for quality control and critical thinking,” says Kate Smaje, McKinsey senior partner and global leader of technology and AI, in a recent episode of McKinsey Talks Talent. “There’s a premium on those capabilities now.”
Smaje, coauthor of the recent book Rewired, joins Senior Partner Brooke Weddle and Partner Bryan Hancock to explore what it takes to manage a workforce of people and AI agents—from reimagining roles and workflows to managing the performance of digital workers.
Listen to the episode, then explore more insights on the future of work and how organizations can help employees adapt, grow, and thrive through ongoing change this Labor Day weekend.
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