March 12, 2025 • 8 mins
Discover how AI is transforming the modern workplace in Episode 1 of Work Week. New research shows that AI isn’t just about automating tasks – it’s about augmenting human creativity and productivity. In this episode, Dr. Kelly Monahan, Managing Director of the Upwork Research Institute, explains how data from Anthropic and Upwork is redefining AI’s role from a cost-cutting tool to a strategic partner in innovation. Get practical tips on using AI to eliminate tedious tasks and boost collaborative problem-solving. Tune in for fresh insights that will empower you to lead and thrive in today’s dynamic AI-enhanced work environment.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:05):
- Hello and welcome to "Work Week,"
the podcast where wetackle one big question
about the rapidly evolving workplace,
explore what the researchsays about the issue,
and explain what it all means for you.
Before jumping in, I wanna take a moment
to introduce myself in this podcast.
This is episode one after all.
(00:26):
What you're hearing are thewords of Dr. Kelly Monahan,
managing director of theUpwork Research Institute.
However, I'm not recordingthis in a studio or from home.
In fact, I'm not recording this at all.
Rather, our team has used AI
to create a digital proxy of my voice.
The world of work is changingmore quickly than ever,
(00:46):
and the "Work Week"podcast is a way for us
to help you keep pace with it all
while also showcasing new ways of working
and what's possible
with emerging AI-enabledtools and services.
That includes using AI tohelp record this podcast.
At the Upwork Research Institute,
my team and I study fundamentalshifts in the workplace,
(01:07):
so you, the business leaders
and workers who are on the front lines
of these dramatic changes,
have the tools and insightsyou need to navigate the here
and now while preparing for the future.
Each week, you'll hear new data
and fresh perspectives from me
or one of our amazing research managers,
Gabby Burlacu and Ted Liu,
brought to you by ouramazing digital proxies.
(01:30):
Okay, let's get into it.
Today, I want to focus on a key question
in the business world:
How can AI help us in our work?
AI is everywhere right now,
promising to transformindustries, automate tasks,
and offer new ways to solve problems.
But is the benefit of AIsimply about reducing staff,
or is there a larger opportunity at play?
(01:52):
To help answer this,
I want to look at data from a recent study
by Anthropic called,
"Which Economic Tasksare Performed with AI?
Evidence from Millionsof Claude Conversations"
I'm also going to highlightsome insights from research
done by Upwork in 2024.
And at the end of this episode,
I'll give you one practicalstep you can try this week
(02:13):
to make AI your ally inthe modern workplace.
Many executives see AI as theultimate automation engine,
a cost-cutting tool,
but Anthropic study suggestssomething more nuanced.
According to Anthropic's research,
based on millions of AI interactions,
AI is often used toaugment human capabilities
(02:35):
rather than just automating their work.
Sure, it can handle repetitive tasks,
but its real value is inenhancing how we brainstorm,
solve problems, and make decisions.
57% of AI interactions arefor tasks like brainstorming,
drafting content, or rapid data analysis,
and almost a quarter ofthese tasks are learning
(02:56):
or knowledge acquisition tasks.
Meaning, humans leveragingAI to gather insights,
sharpen strategies, and makebetter informed decisions.
Only 43% of AI interactionslean toward pure automation;
the kinds of tasks we typically think of
when we hear about AI taking over.
(03:16):
That's a big distinction,
and it's one that manyleaders are missing.
Our own Upwork researchfrom last year shows
that 58% of global leadersstill see AI primarily
as a cost-cutting measure,
a tool for automating work.
A smaller percentage,42%, view it as a force
for boosting humancreativity and productivity.
(03:40):
So there's a disconnect betweenwhat leaders think AI is for
and how employees actuallyuse it on the ground.
Here's another interesting point.
Many CEOs assume AI can
or soon will take on managerial duties.
The assumption is thatAI can instantly step in
to coordinate projects, supervise teams,
or even make high-level decisions,
(04:01):
but Anthropic's datashows minimal evidence
that AI is stepping intothose leadership lanes.
That's because truemanagement requires empathy,
nuanced communication, andthe ability to inspire people,
qualities AI can't replicate.
AI can absolutely help byprocessing data, flagging trends,
or drafting feedback,
(04:23):
but it's still human leaders
who keep teams aligned and motivated.
I actually looked at thisin my new book, "Essential."
In it, I talk about how emotional maturity
is the bedrock of leadership.
AI can be a fantastic support system,
but it isn't replacing the human element.
AI is a tool to helpmanagers be more effective,
(04:43):
not a substitute forgenuine human connection.
Another common misconception
is that AI is replacing entire jobs.
In reality, AI usually targetsspecific tasks within a role.
Anthropic found that 36%of occupations use AI
for at least 25% of their tasks.
Most jobs are really a bundle of tasks,
(05:05):
some routines, some creative.
Among other things,
AI is used to support active listening,
reading comprehension, and writing,
but it hasn't taken over thefull scope of any single job
as we might traditionally define it.
If we let AI handle the routine stuff,
we free ourselves up for morestrategic or innovative work.
(05:27):
Leaders who don't breakdown tasks from titles
risk missing AI's real value proposition
and the big opportunities for improvement
with their people and organizations.
One final thought on theresearch I've been discussing:
We've all seen the headlinesclaiming AI adoption
is at 80% or higher.
Anthropic's data says it's more like 57%.
(05:50):
Still big, but not as high as the hype.
That suggests thereare plenty of barriers,
like regulations, outdatedtech, or lack of training.
It's not that AI's transformativepotential is in doubt,
but rather that organizational readiness
and the barriers to entryfor these technologies
are more formidable than many realize.
True AI success takes morethan flipping a switch.
(06:13):
It demands culture changeand ongoing skill building.
As leaders prepare foran AI-infused workplace,
they must teach workers
how to effectively integrate these tools
into their expertise,
not just how to code withAI or prompt an AI system.
Being AI literate means understanding
both its limitations and possibilities,
(06:35):
recognizing when it's a smart collaborator
and when it's an inadequate stand-in
for deeper human judgment.
(soft bright music)
All right, time for ourone big takeaway this week.
If you want AI to truly help your team,
stop thinking in terms of AI versus people
and start framing it as AI with people.
(06:57):
Don't be so quick to believeyour organization's future
is solely about replacing humans with AI.
The real magic happens whenAI and humans collaborate.
Let AI handle mundane repetitive tasks
so you and your teamscan focus on creativity,
strategy, and empathy,
the stuff that reallymoves businesses forward.
(07:19):
Before I wrap, I also wannagive you a quick action step.
Try this out.
Pick one or two tasks youfind tedious in your workflow,
reporting, data entry, whatever,
and experiment with an AI tool.
For example, we're all veryfamiliar with long reports
and detailed memos.
AI can be a great tool forsummarizing long documents
(07:40):
and extracting the key takeaways,
saving you hours.
If AI helps alleviate some ofyour more monotonous tasks,
share your success with your team
and encourage them to do the same.
And don't forget,
technology alone doesn'tguarantee success.
It's how we adapt to
and integrate AI into our work context
(08:02):
that makes all the difference.
Okay, that's a wrap forthis episode of "Work Week."
We explored how AI can reshape our work,
often in surprising ways.
Rather than seeing AI asa tool to automate jobs,
consider it your new partner,
speeding up basic tasks,sparking creativity,
(08:23):
and enhancing decision-making.
Thanks for tuning in.
If this episode got your gears turning,
we'd love to hear your thoughts.
Share "Work Week" with a friend
or drop a review and besure to follow the show.
We'll catch you nexttime for more insights
on the future of work.
- Hello and welcome to "Work Week,"
the podcast where wetackle one big question
about the rapidly evolving workplace,
explore what the researchsays about the issue,
and explain what it all means for you.
Before jumping in, I wanna take a moment
to introduce myself in this podcast.
This is episode one after all.
(00:26):
What you're hearing are thewords of Dr. Kelly Monahan,
managing director of theUpwork Research Institute.
However, I'm not recordingthis in a studio or from home.
In fact, I'm not recording this at all.
Rather, our team has used AI
to create a digital proxy of my voice.
The world of work is changingmore quickly than ever,
(00:46):
and the "Work Week"podcast is a way for us
to help you keep pace with it all
while also showcasing new ways of working
and what's possible
with emerging AI-enabledtools and services.
That includes using AI tohelp record this podcast.
At the Upwork Research Institute,
my team and I study fundamentalshifts in the workplace,
(01:07):
so you, the business leaders
and workers who are on the front lines
of these dramatic changes,
have the tools and insightsyou need to navigate the here
and now while preparing for the future.
Each week, you'll hear new data
and fresh perspectives from me
or one of our amazing research managers,
Gabby Burlacu and Ted Liu,
brought to you by ouramazing digital proxies.
(01:30):
Okay, let's get into it.
Today, I want to focus on a key question
in the business world:
How can AI help us in our work?
AI is everywhere right now,
promising to transformindustries, automate tasks,
and offer new ways to solve problems.
But is the benefit of AIsimply about reducing staff,
or is there a larger opportunity at play?
(01:52):
To help answer this,
I want to look at data from a recent study
by Anthropic called,
"Which Economic Tasksare Performed with AI?
Evidence from Millionsof Claude Conversations"
I'm also going to highlightsome insights from research
done by Upwork in 2024.
And at the end of this episode,
I'll give you one practicalstep you can try this week
(02:13):
to make AI your ally inthe modern workplace.
Many executives see AI as theultimate automation engine,
a cost-cutting tool,
but Anthropic study suggestssomething more nuanced.
According to Anthropic's research,
based on millions of AI interactions,
AI is often used toaugment human capabilities
(02:35):
rather than just automating their work.
Sure, it can handle repetitive tasks,
but its real value is inenhancing how we brainstorm,
solve problems, and make decisions.
57% of AI interactions arefor tasks like brainstorming,
drafting content, or rapid data analysis,
and almost a quarter ofthese tasks are learning
(02:56):
or knowledge acquisition tasks.
Meaning, humans leveragingAI to gather insights,
sharpen strategies, and makebetter informed decisions.
Only 43% of AI interactionslean toward pure automation;
the kinds of tasks we typically think of
when we hear about AI taking over.
(03:16):
That's a big distinction,
and it's one that manyleaders are missing.
Our own Upwork researchfrom last year shows
that 58% of global leadersstill see AI primarily
as a cost-cutting measure,
a tool for automating work.
A smaller percentage,42%, view it as a force
for boosting humancreativity and productivity.
(03:40):
So there's a disconnect betweenwhat leaders think AI is for
and how employees actuallyuse it on the ground.
Here's another interesting point.
Many CEOs assume AI can
or soon will take on managerial duties.
The assumption is thatAI can instantly step in
to coordinate projects, supervise teams,
or even make high-level decisions,
(04:01):
but Anthropic's datashows minimal evidence
that AI is stepping intothose leadership lanes.
That's because truemanagement requires empathy,
nuanced communication, andthe ability to inspire people,
qualities AI can't replicate.
AI can absolutely help byprocessing data, flagging trends,
or drafting feedback,
(04:23):
but it's still human leaders
who keep teams aligned and motivated.
I actually looked at thisin my new book, "Essential."
In it, I talk about how emotional maturity
is the bedrock of leadership.
AI can be a fantastic support system,
but it isn't replacing the human element.
AI is a tool to helpmanagers be more effective,
(04:43):
not a substitute forgenuine human connection.
Another common misconception
is that AI is replacing entire jobs.
In reality, AI usually targetsspecific tasks within a role.
Anthropic found that 36%of occupations use AI
for at least 25% of their tasks.
Most jobs are really a bundle of tasks,
(05:05):
some routines, some creative.
Among other things,
AI is used to support active listening,
reading comprehension, and writing,
but it hasn't taken over thefull scope of any single job
as we might traditionally define it.
If we let AI handle the routine stuff,
we free ourselves up for morestrategic or innovative work.
(05:27):
Leaders who don't breakdown tasks from titles
risk missing AI's real value proposition
and the big opportunities for improvement
with their people and organizations.
One final thought on theresearch I've been discussing:
We've all seen the headlinesclaiming AI adoption
is at 80% or higher.
Anthropic's data says it's more like 57%.
(05:50):
Still big, but not as high as the hype.
That suggests thereare plenty of barriers,
like regulations, outdatedtech, or lack of training.
It's not that AI's transformativepotential is in doubt,
but rather that organizational readiness
and the barriers to entryfor these technologies
are more formidable than many realize.
True AI success takes morethan flipping a switch.
(06:13):
It demands culture changeand ongoing skill building.
As leaders prepare foran AI-infused workplace,
they must teach workers
how to effectively integrate these tools
into their expertise,
not just how to code withAI or prompt an AI system.
Being AI literate means understanding
both its limitations and possibilities,
(06:35):
recognizing when it's a smart collaborator
and when it's an inadequate stand-in
for deeper human judgment.
(soft bright music)
All right, time for ourone big takeaway this week.
If you want AI to truly help your team,
stop thinking in terms of AI versus people
and start framing it as AI with people.
(06:57):
Don't be so quick to believeyour organization's future
is solely about replacing humans with AI.
The real magic happens whenAI and humans collaborate.
Let AI handle mundane repetitive tasks
so you and your teamscan focus on creativity,
strategy, and empathy,
the stuff that reallymoves businesses forward.
(07:19):
Before I wrap, I also wannagive you a quick action step.
Try this out.
Pick one or two tasks youfind tedious in your workflow,
reporting, data entry, whatever,
and experiment with an AI tool.
For example, we're all veryfamiliar with long reports
and detailed memos.
AI can be a great tool forsummarizing long documents
(07:40):
and extracting the key takeaways,
saving you hours.
If AI helps alleviate some ofyour more monotonous tasks,
share your success with your team
and encourage them to do the same.
And don't forget,
technology alone doesn'tguarantee success.
It's how we adapt to
and integrate AI into our work context
(08:02):
that makes all the difference.
Okay, that's a wrap forthis episode of "Work Week."
We explored how AI can reshape our work,
often in surprising ways.
Rather than seeing AI asa tool to automate jobs,
consider it your new partner,
speeding up basic tasks,sparking creativity,
(08:23):
and enhancing decision-making.
Thanks for tuning in.
If this episode got your gears turning,
we'd love to hear your thoughts.
Share "Work Week" with a friend
or drop a review and besure to follow the show.
We'll catch you nexttime for more insights
on the future of work.
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