AI and the Office

Some CEOs are still arguing about days in office, pushing people back into open floor plans where voice-based AI tools can create noisy, distracting spaces as more people ditch keyboards for microphones. Other executives are doing the opposite, migrating back to remote-based work to allow for more seamless integration of AI by capturing conversations digitally. Still others think the office could be part of the solution. Aurelio David, who runs workplace experimentation at LinkedIn and led the pilot behind the new design, suggests AI has accelerated execution, but decision-making, alignment, and collaboration still lag.

The pandemic-driven shift to hybrid and remote work kick-started one of the biggest-ever changes in office design, as workplaces added more tools and more space for collaboration and connection. AI’s impact may be even bigger, but the direction of the change isn’t yet clear. Voice-based AI tools might lead to office designs that feel like cube farms from the past as workers seek more quiet and privacy. Teams might shift even more heavily to remote work to ensure all conversations and meetings land in an AI-accessible knowledge base.

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