The future of work in an AI-first world

I finished "Open To Work" by Ryan and Aneesh in a single day. I couldn't put it down.

The book is designed for anyone who will be impacted by the AI revolution. (Spoiler: That’s everyone.)

Here’s how it shifts the perspective for different roles:

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀: View your career as a "climbing wall," not a ladder. It’s time to double down on the 5Cs—the unique human advantages AI can’t replicate: • Communication • Compassion • Curiosity • Courage • Creativity

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: Shift from managing hierarchies to coaching teams. Organize your company as a "Work Chart" built around outcomes, not rigid Org Charts.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀: The economy of the future belongs to countries that prioritize lifelong learning, invest in adaptable workforces, and value proven capabilities over credentials.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹-𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: Understand the new expectations and guide your kids to focus on what will be useful in the future, not just what worked in the past.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀: Learn how to leverage LinkedIn tools to be seen rather than just applying.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗜 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀: Understand why you should take AI seriously and exactly where to start using the 30-60-90 framework.

𝗠𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆: The book provides a "thermometer" to measure the risk level of your current job using the 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲. That alone is worth the read.

At Microsoft, We’re actively questioning whether traditional org charts still make sense in an AI-first workflow. We aren't just looking at AI as a "bolt-on" tool for existing workflows; we are looking at how to organize work around AI.

The "Work Chart" concept helped me confirm we have a good start.

Most people think AI is just another tool to bolt onto existing workflows. Smart professionals realize it’s a total reorganization of how we create value.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸, 𝗜’𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀.

What’s one part of your job you think AI will completely reshape?

Which of the 5Cs do you think is most undervalued today?

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻'𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘆𝗲𝘁, 𝗜 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁.