AI Redefines Productivity: An Underestimated Revolution

The Underestimated Impact of AI on Business Productivity

Artificial intelligence, often perceived as a threat to jobs, is actually a catalyst for transformation in the workplace. It does not merely eliminate positions but profoundly changes the nature of jobs, favoring those who quickly adapt to these new technologies.

Historically, technology has always had a transformative impact on how we work. What distinguishes the current era is the speed at which these changes are occurring. Advances in artificial intelligence are accelerating the pace of work to a level that few organizations and individuals can keep up with.

The media often focuses on job losses and concerns about young people's access to the job market. However, they frequently overlook the opportunities for progress that this technological revolution offers.

With over five decades of experience in the business world, much of it in a still analog environment, I remember the introduction of emails more than twenty years ago. Companies that resisted change and clung to their traditional methods did not survive this transition. Progress moved forward without them.

Today, we find ourselves at a similar crossroads. AI is already enhancing productivity, opening new careers, and challenging the status quo. In France, this momentum is supported by a strengthened national strategy, with the France 2030 program emphasizing computing infrastructure, talent, accelerating usage, and trustworthy AI.

AI Marks a New Era of Work

Young employees, particularly those from Generation Z, play a crucial role in the adoption of AI in the workplace. According to a study by the International Workplace Group (IWG), nearly two-thirds of these young workers help their older colleagues understand and use AI tools, whether through direct mentoring or practical advice integrating AI into daily workflows. This reverse mentoring generates significant gains in productivity and collaboration.

The demand for AI skills is on the rise. PwC's "AI Jobs Barometer" analysis shows a dramatic increase in job postings requiring AI skills in France, rising from 21,000 in 2018 to 166,000 in 2024, with exponential growth expected by 2026.

Yet, anxiety persists. A survey by the World Economic Forum reveals that more than half of executives expect AI to replace jobs. A growing concern is the automation of entry-level positions, which could deprive young people of the necessary steps to access more senior roles.

This ambivalence is particularly pronounced among young people in France. A Randstad study indicates that 52% of Generation Z respondents are worried about the impact of AI on employment, while 55% are excited about its integration into businesses.

Many are already envisioning their use of AI. According to EY, 64% of surveyed students believe they will use generative AI in their first job.

AI "augmented" learning accelerates skill development in unprecedented ways, whether in school, university, or at work. The cards are being reshuffled. While some segments may experience a limited decline in employment, the most likely reality is the transformation of jobs. Young people will need to be more intentional in choosing their entry point into the job market in the coming years.

Moore's Law and Exponential Evolution

To understand the current transformations, it is helpful to look back at history. In the early 1970s, Intel launched the 4004, the world's first commercial microprocessor. Shortly after, Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel, observed that the number of transistors on a chip doubled approximately every two years. This was not just a marketing slogan but a fundamental observation: progress was not linear; it was exponential.

This observation became known as Moore's Law. The message was clear: waiting two years did not mean getting a small improvement, but a spectacular leap.

Accelerating Businesses with AI

Today, we make the mistake of viewing AI as merely a tool for efficiency, while it fits into an exponential curve. Since the creation of Regus in 1989, I have not witnessed such a significant transformation. Exponential change does not just alter jobs; it transforms the very speed of businesses.

I have seen this phenomenon before. When emails first arrived, some respectable companies claimed they would never adopt them. They did not trust this technology and believed that postal mail had worked perfectly for centuries. But email represented progress. Once email, smartphones, and the Internet were fully adopted, the pace of business did not slow down; it accelerated significantly.

AI will have the same effect. Many believe that companies will continue to move at the same pace, simply with fewer employees. This is a mistake. When one person can accomplish ten or twenty times more work in a day, organizations do not stagnate: they expand the realm of possibilities.

This acceleration also relies on trust. In France, the government explicitly promotes "trustworthy AI," in line with European requirements, to enable broader deployment in the economy while securing its usage.

AI is also a better teacher than the old model of learning by immersion. AI-enhanced training allows individuals to climb the learning curve faster than ever, often right from the classroom, even before their first job. By eliminating repetitive tasks and generating immense efficiency gains, AI frees up time for what humans do best: think creatively, solve problems, and innovate.

Proactive Profiles in an AI-Dominated World

One of the qualities I look for in the talents of tomorrow is their ability to effectively use AI and understand how it can amplify a company's potential. Those who have already subscribed to an AI tool and are actively learning to leverage it today have an advantage. They bring new skills, energy, and innovation to rapidly growing companies, thereby boosting productivity and expansion.

Young people need to envision their future and ask themselves the right questions:

• "Where will I gain the best professional experience in this new world?"
• "Do I have the skills that tomorrow's companies will value?"

In the past, ambitious employees learned to program in the evenings or obtained additional qualifications alongside their jobs. This mindset is more essential than ever today. Don’t rely solely on school or university to prepare you. Join an AI-focused club. Become part of a community. Train in the tools that are transforming industries. Take charge of your own development.

Every major technological revolution follows the same pattern: many cling to their habits, while a minority quickly adapts and reaps the benefits. What distinguishes our time is the speed. The velocity of businesses is increasing faster than ever.

AI, like the early Intel chips, is a foundational technology: it accumulates, strengthens, and transforms everything built upon it. It is neither a distant possibility nor a passing trend: it is already the engine of scale and competitive advantage.

Those who choose today to engage, learn, and experiment with AI will see opportunities expand rather than diminish. The history is clear: in periods of exponential transformation, those who act first are the ones who gain the most.