Shaping the Future of Work and Organisational Value Architecture
Artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved from its conception in 1950, when Alan Turing introduced the concept of machine intelligence, to becoming a revolutionary force in modern society. While the term "artificial intelligence" was first coined in 1956, the advent of generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, has marked a significant turning point, dramatically transforming the way individuals and organisations approach work, creativity, and decision-making.
Unlocking the Business Potential of Generative AI Tools
Generative AI tools have brought unparalleled opportunities to enhance productivity, creativity, and efficiency. By asking targeted questions, users can unlock vast reservoirs of intelligence to augment research, create multimedia content, analyse data, and more; all within a highly accessible and cost-effective framework. These tools have democratised AI capabilities, offering profound benefits at our fingertips.
However, the accuracy of AI-generated results requires careful scrutiny. Generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, are estimated to have a Mensa IQ score above 100 and this figure continues to improve. The average human IQ score ranges from 90 to 1101. Despite concerns around hallucinations (where AI produces unwarranted or false information) these tools can still serve as powerful aids when their outputs are critically assessed and contextualised.
Understanding the Accuracy Gap Between AI and Human Input
Interestingly, the above research on IQ highlights that management consultants, a profession often relied upon for high-level strategic advice, will sit in the IQ range of 90 to 110 – sometimes operating at a lower level than the GenAI tools2. This comparison underscores the potential of generative AI as a complementary tool, amplifying human capabilities while enabling better-informed decision-making. AI should not replace human judgment but rather serve to augment it, ensuring that both consultants and AI are utilised as resources to guide effective outcomes.
The Development of Ask Milo
With the realisation of AI's transformative potential, tools such as Ask Milo have emerged to enhance user experience. Ask Milo builds on the capabilities of ChatGPT, offering a pre-engineered suite of over 162,000 questions spanning 100 business categories designed to deliver better outcomes. Users can tailor these prompts to their circumstances, execute them using LLaMA 3.1, translate results into almost any language, and export data seamlessly into Word, PDF, or clipboard formats – all in a single platform. Ask Milo acts as a GPS that navigates the vast opportunities presented by ChatGPT's blank canvas, empowering users to ask better questions and achieve quality outputs.
The Growing Influence of AI in the Modern Workforce
AI's integration into work delivery architectures is reshaping the concept of collaboration between humans and machines. Digital workers including AI agents and bots are set to replace certain jobs while simultaneously creating a host of new, enriching opportunities. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 20253 predicts that while 92 million jobs may be displaced by advancing technologies, 170 million new positions will emerge, resulting in a net gain of 78 million jobs globally.
Organisations must embrace this change by adopting strategic capability planning, preparing for the creation of new roles, and equipping employees with the skills needed to thrive in these evolving environments. This process involves fostering a mindset that values adaptability and innovation, ensuring readiness for the opportunities that lie ahead.
The change management required to do this must not be underestimated; it is a significant shift for executives, managers and employees alike.
AI and Human Collaboration
AI augments human capabilities by enhancing prediction, iteration, and adaptation, while humans excel at leadership, empathy, and creativity. Together, humans and machines can train, sustain, and amplify each other’s strengths, fostering an environment of mutual collaboration. The synergy between these entities transforms the workplace, enabling humans to embrace "superpowers" while machines efficiently handle transactional and repetitive tasks.
Redefining Organisational Models for Value Delivery
One of AI’s most profound impacts is its ability to influence how organisations deliver value. Traditional job architectures often impose artificial breaks in the horizontal flow of value, leading to inefficiencies and added costs. While the agile movement sought to address these challenges through value streams and self-regulating teams, its success has been hindered by inflexible organisational structures and command-and-control leadership paradigms.
Organisations now face a choice: to either fit new value architectures into outdated operating models or to create entirely new frameworks optimised for value delivery.
From Traditional Structures to AI Enabled Operating Models
In traditional models:
- Managers focus heavily on coordination tasks, such as status meetings and resource negotiations.
- Teams remain anchored in hierarchical structures, with insights often siloed within individuals.
- Knowledge departs with employees, creating inefficiencies in value flow.
In blue sky models:
- AI orchestrates seamless information flows, allowing humans to focus on judgment, trust-building, and client insight.
- Expertise flows directly to problems, bypassing silos and political constraints.
- Institutional intelligence compounds daily, transforming knowledge into infrastructure.
- Value flows directly to teams leveraging AI systems, eliminating coordination layers.
Shifting Focus to Skills-Based Organisations
The shift toward skills-based organisations prioritises capabilities over traditional qualifications and job descriptions.
Companies are identifying the skills necessary to deliver horizontal value and aligning their workforce accordingly. By moving skills to work rather than fitting work into rigid job structures, organisations foster dynamic, cross-skilled teams that deliver more impactful results.
This transition reflects the broader movement away from formal roles into fluid, outcome-oriented models. At the heart of this shift is business agility, which empowers organisations to respond quickly to change, deliver value continuously, and foster innovation across teams. Skills-based approaches align perfectly with this mindset, agile organisations build dynamic, cross-skilled teams that can flex and reconfigure as priorities evolve, replacing conventional cross-functional teams.
Embracing Change with AI and Human Innovation in Sync
AI continues to redefine the landscape of work and organisational value delivery. By embracing the transformative power of AI, fostering human-machine collaboration, and shifting toward skills-based structures, organisations can unlock unprecedented opportunities.
The key lies in adaptability, strategic planning, and the willingness to innovate. Together, humans and machines can thrive, creating richer and more rewarding futures for individuals and organisations alike.
References
1 https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-the-smartest-ai-models-by-iq/
2 https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-the-smartest-ai-models-by-iq/
3 https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/