• NextWave AI
  • Posts
  • Beyond Efficiency: AI’s Role in Reshaping Work and Reimagining Impact

Beyond Efficiency: AI’s Role in Reshaping Work and Reimagining Impact

Author

samour ankit
August 09, 2025

In partnership with

The Daily Newsletter for Intellectually Curious Readers

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

In today’s rapidly evolving world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a tool—it’s a transformative force redefining work, leadership, and human potential. According to Priyanka Anand, Vice President & Head of HR for Southeast Asia, Oceania & India at Ericsson, the real question for leaders is not whether to embrace AI, but how to do so responsibly, while preserving our uniquely human strengths.

1. Shifting Focus from Routine to High-Value Work

By taking over repetitive, administrative, and transactional tasks, AI enables people to focus on creativity, strategy, empathy, and innovation. The goal is not just efficiency, but to reimagine impact.

2. The Augmented Workforce: Humans + Machines

The future is not about humans vs. machines, but about working together.

  • In recruitment, AI can analyse vast talent pools, match skills with roles, and reduce bias—shortening time-to-hire while supporting inclusive hiring.

  • Across the employee lifecycle, AI personalises learning paths, career growth opportunities, and HR support.

3. Personalised Career Growth

AI-powered platforms are replacing rigid “career ladders” with dynamic marketplaces of roles, projects, and learning opportunities.

  • Ericsson’s Career Hub matches employees with roles and projects suited to their skills and ambitions, integrating personalised upskilling paths.

  • A 2024 Microsoft & LinkedIn report shows 92% of Indian knowledge workers already use AI at work, with 72% bringing their own AI tools.

4. From Data to Predictive Insights

AI-driven workforce analytics help leaders:

  • Forecast talent needs,

  • Identify attrition risks,

  • Understand drivers of employee engagement.
    With early warning signals, organisations can act proactively to retain talent.

5. Responsible and Inclusive AI

AI’s success depends on ethical deployment:

  • Ensuring diversity in training data,

  • Using gender-neutral job descriptions,

  • Maintaining transparency in recommendations and data use to build trust.

6. The Human Factor

AI can process data and automate workflows, but it cannot replace empathy, judgment, and culture.
In times of uncertainty, human leadership provides purpose and values-driven decision-making.

7. Preparing for the Future

Success in the AI era requires:

  • Technical skills,

  • Adaptability,

  • Learning agility,

  • Emotional intelligence.
    AI literacy is now a core employability skill.

8. AI as a Force for Good

When used ethically, AI can:

  • Make work more inclusive and meaningful,

  • Unlock hidden talent,

  • Give equal opportunities to all.

Conclusion:
AI is already here, and its greatest power lies in augmentation, not replacement. By combining human creativity with AI’s capabilities, organisations can transform not only the way work is done but also its meaning and impact.