The Future of Work

For many businesses, the biggest barrier to AI is the belief that you need to be “techy” to use it. But what if the skills we need most in an AI enabled workplace aren’t technical skills at all?

In Episode 13 of I Am Not a Robot, Justin Melton and Luke Taylor speak with Tim Allen, National AI Skills Director at Microsoft, about the future of work, why AI skills are increasingly human skills and how businesses can start using AI without adding more complexity to their day. Tim challenges the idea that using AI means learning to code. Instead, he describes AI skills as the ability to communicate in natural language, ask better questions and understand enough about the technology to get more value from it. That makes AI far more accessible to everyday business users, regardless of their technical background.

For businesses already stretched for time, one of the biggest opportunities is reducing the “busy work” that fills the day. Emails, calendars, meeting notes, follow ups and repetitive administration can consume hours without necessarily creating more value. Tim argues that productivity should first be about getting some of that time back. From there, businesses can spend more time helping customers, solving bigger problems and focusing on growth and innovation. The goal isn’t simply to squeeze more work into the day but to create more capacity for the work that actually matters.

That doesn’t mean businesses need to launch a major AI transformation. Tim’s advice is to think big but start small. Find one task that creates friction in your day and ask whether AI can make it easier. It might be summarising an overflowing inbox, organising your calendar, preparing an onboarding plan or turning a meeting into notes and actions. Then keep using it for that task. Building a simple habit creates confidence and helps people see practical value before they start looking at bigger opportunities across the business.

As AI takes on more of this administrative work, the skills people bring to the workplace may become even more important. Tim believes AI could actually “make humans more human.” Instead of spending hours creating documents, replying to emails or taking meeting notes, people can spend more time communicating, thinking critically, being creative and connecting with customers and colleagues. Resilience and adaptability will also matter as the way we work continues to change. AI may be able to produce the asset or analyse the information, but people still need to decide what it means, question it and communicate it effectively.

For businesses wondering where to begin, the message from the episode is simple: assess where you are and take the next sensible step. If you’re new to AI, start with one everyday task. If you’re already using it, look for processes creating friction across the business. If you’re further along, start exploring how AI could reshape workflows or work alongside your team. AI shouldn’t become another system to manage or another item on the to do list. Used well, it should reduce complexity, create capacity and give people more time to do the work only humans can do.

Watch the podcast: https://aitogo.au/podcast/