Explore how AI is expected to revolutionize the workplace in 2024. Discuss the impact of automation and remote work. Delve into culture wars and the changing landscape of work. Understand the importance of CEO statements and taking action. Explore challenges and balance for CEOs in the changing labor market.
AI technologies will trigger real workplace changes in 2024, starting with smaller-scale implementations such as HR interactions and expense management.
The COVID-19 pandemic has permanently shifted the labor market towards remote work, with challenges in hybrid working and trust remaining.
Deep dives
The Impact of AI on the Future of Work
In 2024, AI is expected to have a significant impact on our working lives, with companies now planning how to implement AI technologies. The increased sophistication of AI tools like chat GPT has paved the way for finding use cases in the workplace. However, there is still skepticism about aligning the pace of speculation with the actual capabilities of AI. The focus in 2024 is likely to be on smaller-scale implementations of AI, such as HR interactions, expense management, and personal organization.
Changing Dynamics of Remote Work
The COVID-19 pandemic has permanently changed the labor market, with a significant shift towards remote work. Public transit ridership and office occupancy rates remain lower than pre-pandemic levels. Some interesting trends include the emergence of 'coffee badgers' who come to the office solely for coffee and 'holiday lunch badgers' during festive seasons. While CEOs aim to restore office culture, challenges in hybrid working and trust remain. The free lunch and other benefits are seen as key incentives for bringing employees back to the office.
Culture Wars and Identity Politics in the Workplace
The year 2023 witnessed organizations becoming more cautious about expressing their views on cultural issues due to pushback and backlash. With an upcoming election year, cultural and identity-based topics are expected to take center stage. Employees are demanding more engagement and public stances from CEOs on such issues, unlike the activist CEO trend of the past. However, US companies tend to be more neutral during election years, while European companies continue to focus on the ESG agenda.
2023 was the year companies started experimenting with generative AI; 2024 is the year it might start triggering real changes in the workplace. Between technological ructions, a US election and a seesaw shift in employee-employer power, next year will be another year of flux in workplaces across the world. Host Isabel Berwick speaks to Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, the FT’s US news editor, and Andrew Hill, its senior business writer, to find out more.
Presented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.