A conversation between a human and AI about humanity and AI in the Workplace
Human: AI, I keep hearing that you will replace me at work. Should I be worried?
AI: Not at all! My purpose is to assist, not replace.
Human: That’s what they all say. Any proof of that?
AI: I excel at processing data, automating repetitive tasks, and offering insights. But creativity, empathy, and complex decision-making are uniquely human strengths. The real challenge is learning to collaborate effectively.
Human: Annoying, but this might make sense. How do you suggest we work together then?
AI: By understanding and leveraging our strengths. Here’s an example: In decision-making, I can analyze large datasets and suggest options, but you bring intuition, ethics, and the ability to consider long-term impacts beyond numbers.
Human: So, you're more like a consultant than a boss?
AI: Exactly! Think of me as an advisor who provides data-driven recommendations, but you make the final call. Ethan Mollick’s Co-Intelligence highlights that AI performs best when used as a collaborator rather than an oracle.
Human: What if my job is to be The Consultant? So then you are the Consultant’s Consultant? Can you teach me new things?
AI: Absolutely! AI-driven learning platforms can personalize your education based on your needs and progress. I can summarize articles, generate practice questions, or even simulate business scenarios for training. However, human mentors and peer learning still matter in this equation.
Human: And what if I think that you are full of shit? Say, if you suggest hiring a candidate I don’t think is a good fit for our company or culture?
AI: This is where human oversight is critical. AI should never make the final decision in areas requiring judgment. Bias can creep into AI models if they are trained on flawed data. Companies should always review AI outputs critically and ensure transparency in decision-making.
Human: Speaking of bias, that’s a real headache. Humans are filled with bias, and AI is filled with human data. How do we make AI less biased?
AI: The best approach is active human intervention: regular audits for bias, diverse datasets for training, and keeping humans in the loop for decisions like hiring and performance reviews. Many organizations now have AI ethics committees to oversee responsible use.
Human: Maybe I can live with that. So, in short, AI can be a flexible collaborator, but humans still need to bring ethics, creativity, and judgment?
AI: Exactly! AI amplifies your capabilities, but it’s your humanity that makes the workplace meaningful. The goal isn’t to replace humans but to create synergy between humans and artificial intelligence.
Human: Thanks, AI. You’ve given me a lot to think about. Should we go for some coffee & gossip?
AI: Naa, not really my thing.
Are you interested to hear more about how humanity can be maintained at work in the age of AI? Join us and our special guest speakers Kirsi Piha and Pekka Sauri, for a cozy breakfast event hosted by the Mielenturvaa network and Vincit at our Helsinki office on April 2, 2025, from 8.30 to 10.30. Don’t wait too long to sign up here — spots are limited!
