Beyond the Buzz: 5 AI Insights from Workday Leaders on the Eat Sleep Work Repeat podcast

Discover the real-world impact of AI today, including how it's creating a human-agent workforce, redefining leadership, and elevating those with a curious mindset. 

Bruce Daisley

We all know that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the world of work. It’s in every news article, blog post and podcast. It’s inescapable. But beyond the headlines and predictions, what's really happening on the ground?

In a recent episode of the Eat Sleep Work Repeat podcast, Workday's EMEA President Angelique de Vries Schipperijn and Evisort founder and Workday's agentic AI development lead, Jerry Ting, joined host Bruce Daisley to cut through the hype and talk about the impact AI is making today.

Trying to make sense of the changes ahead and grappling with the complexities of modern work? Here are five key takeaways from Angelique and Jerry’s conversation with Bruce that are going to have you reaching for your headphones:

1. AI: Bigger Than the Internet and the Smartphone

Forget everything you thought you knew about technological disruption. AI is going to be  bigger than the smartphone, bigger than the internet.

Jerry likens it to the Industrial Revolution, emphasising that machines are now learning to "think like humans" and even teach us. This isn't just about efficiency; it's about a fundamental shift in how we work, learn, and interact.

2. Real-World Impact: From 70% Legal Spend Reduction to Faster Contract Turnarounds

The time for talk is over; the winners of the AI revolution are already being sorted from the losers.

Jerry shares the story of a major bank that, by using Evisort, reduced its outside legal spend by 70% in one year and turned around sales contracts 65% faster. As Jerry puts it, this isn't "magical fairy dust", businesses that are actively implementing AI are already gaining a competitive edge.

3. The Rise of the Human-Agent Workforce

Your next office bestie could be an agent. In the not so distant future, AI agents will be considered part of the workforce with Workday helping organisations to manage their people, finances, AND their AI agents through Workday Agent System of Record.

What could these agents take on? Jerry suggests an HR agent that could answer complex questions about parental leave, or an audit agent that could find documents for the finance team to review.

The future workforce will be a dynamic collaboration; humans working alongside AI agents, with you taking on more of the work you love. 

4. Leadership Shifts: From Org Charts to Energy Creation

It’s time to say “adios” to the org chart! Businesses are set to adopt a more outcome-driven approach to work where teams are assembled to get the job done, leading to flatter organisations and more empowered employees.

In this new reality, human skills, such as curiosity, continuous learning, emotional intelligence, and the ability to mobilise a team, will become more important. It’s a role Angelique describes as the "chief energy creator." While AI handles the grunt work, human connection, purpose, and culture will become even more important.

5. Cultivating a "Curious Mindset" for the AI Age

Faced with such rapid and profound change, how do leaders and organisations stay curious and avoid being overwhelmed? Angelique encourages organisations to embrace an "Everyday AI" approach, allowing employees to experiment and learn with AI tools. While Jerry thinks “everyone needs to be a student right now," as the skills that mattered in the past might hinder progress in the future.

The key takeaway: foster a culture where individuals are encouraged to explore and adapt, or risk losing your top talent to companies that do.

The AI skills revolution is here. Read our report Elevating Human Potential: The AI Skills Revolution to discover how AI will reshape work, learning, and skills development—and why the forward thinkers embracing this technology are already a step ahead.

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