Future of Work in AI Era

The February SIOP Work Smart Series workshop—Future of Work in the AI Era—was well received by an audience including SIOP members and nonmembers eager to discover more about the insights needed to navigate the future of work in the AI (artificial intelligence) era. Workshop coordinators Dr. Nikita Arun and Jean Stetz-Puchalski invited presenters Alexandra Levit (Inspiration at Work) and Dr. Kelly Monahan (Beyond the Desk) to share their insights to help practitioners, business professionals, and organizations prepare to navigate AI-era transitions, explore workplace trends, address strategic implications, and take actionable steps to reshape talent systems in order to mitigate risks, close connection gaps, and foster resilient, people-centered human–AI collaboration.

Our presenters set a foundation for the evolving landscape of the AI era. The next 5 years will bring unprecedented shifts in how organizations function, lead, and engage their people. This workshop equipped I-O psychology leaders, HR professionals, and organizational strategists with insight and tools to shape the future of work. This workshop discussed how artificial intelligence is not a standalone technology trend but is being integrated in a way that is reshaping jobs, leadership, organizational culture, and workforce expectations. The workshop also examined generational realities shaping the future workforce.

Levit kicked off the presentation by walking participants through 10 workplace trends that are likely to define the coming years. She described a shift from theoretical conversations about AI to practical implementation and how this shift is prompting widespread job redesign, with leaders reconsidering how work is structured, how roles are defined, and how tasks are distributed between human and AI contributors. Participants learned about how AI adoption is accelerating while organizational systems and culture are trying to keep pace.

A spirited discussion workshop followed on how these trends are unfolding in participants’ own practices and organizations. Attendees first explored and discussed trends they are witnessing in smaller breakout rooms, sharing real examples and challenges from their workplaces. The workshop then transitioned into a group share-out, where participants reflected on common themes, tensions, and practical implications. This led to an engaging Q&A with Levit, allowing participants to dive deeper and explore how they may strategically respond to these changes within their organizations.

Building on this foundation, Monahan provided further depth to the conversation by discussing the research. She discussed the gap between technological advancement and readiness, and provided context for the paradox that although AI is intended to enhance productivity, a lack of planned workforce development can undermine engagement and trust. For example, executives can report high awareness of AI skills though few organizations have formal AI training in place. She also discussed the importance of alignment, such that AI implementation must consider the human component, building workforce capability, and intentionally shape organizational culture.

The workshop then moved to a series of short breakout discussions and share-out that helped participants turn their ideas into action. First, leaders reflected on their organization’s current “operating state.” Participants discussed where urgency may be overshadowing thorough decision-making and what it would look like to “get AI right” over the next 3 years. Participants then explored where AI could best serve as a force multiplier, freeing up people to focus on creativity and strategy. In addition, attendees assessed the readiness of their workforce for using AI using a simple framework. Finally, the workshop concluded with a Q&A that led to an engaging discussion.

Participant responses to the workshop were overwhelmingly positive= as 100 percent of respondents indicated that the workshop fulfilled all learning objectives and that the workshop format effectively enabled learning of concepts. All respondents offered high praise for the presenters, noting that both presenters demonstrated expertise on the topics, provided a variety of examples, answered questions effectively, and created an inclusive environment that supported their learning.

You can still register to access the workshop recording, all the materials that were shared, and additional resources.. Please note that breakout sessions were not recorded. If you were able to attend, you have continued access to the recording and resources—this is a workshop you will benefit from revisiting.

Thank you to our presenters for so graciously sharing their time, expertise, and insights during this impactful workshop.

For more information about sponsoring this SIOP learning channel, please contact Susan Rogers at srogers@siop.org. If you have questions or ideas for the Work Smart Series Team, please email WorkSmart@siop.org

Save the Date:

Join us for the next SIOP Work Smart Series virtual event Inclusion in Flux: Culture Meets Strategy on Wednesday, June 3, from 11 aa.m.–2 p.m. ET. Watch for more details on the SIOP Work Smart Series page. If you can’t attend live, don’t worry—all registrants will receive the full workshop recording, along with a postworkshop resource guide featuring Q&A highlights and curated materials to help you put the insights into practice.