Gerrit Kazmaier from Workday explains that AI agents will transform work by enabling more natural, conversational interactions for routine tasks, making digital tools more accessible and efficient. While AI will handle simple, repetitive activities through voice and chat, complex tasks will still require traditional interfaces, leading to a hybrid approach in future workflows.
In the video, Gerrit Kazmaier from Workday discusses the evolving role of AI agents and how they will transform the way we work, emphasizing the shift towards more natural and intuitive interfaces. He highlights that, in the near future, interacting with technology will predominantly be through natural language, making digital tools more accessible and user-friendly. This transition involves moving from traditional interfaces, like forms and menus, to conversational interactions that feel more like natural human communication.
Kazmaier explains that currently, there is a small but significant step where AI can assist users by helping them deploy and optimize tools like Workday more effectively. This involves guiding users to make better use of existing features and making systems more understandable. However, the ultimate goal is to enable users to simply talk to these systems and have them perform tasks automatically, reducing the need for manual input and complex navigation.
He notes that many tasks today are already approximated through conversational interfaces, especially in self-service scenarios such as checking PTO balances or requesting time off. These tasks are well-suited for conversational AI because they involve straightforward requests that can be easily specified through natural language. Kazmaier suggests that as AI improves, more routine and repetitive tasks will be handled through voice and chat interactions, streamlining workflows and reducing friction.
Despite these advancements, Kazmaier points out that not all tasks are suitable for conversational interfaces. Complex activities, like designing a 3D scene or specifying intricate details verbally, are too complicated to manage through conversation alone. These tasks require precise control and visualization, which are better achieved through traditional pointing and clicking interfaces. He emphasizes that the effectiveness of conversational AI depends on the complexity of the task and the amount of context and state information involved.
Finally, Kazmaier argues that conversational interfaces will become a key part of everyday experiences for specific types of problems that fit naturally into dialogue-based interactions. However, for more complex or dense contextual tasks, traditional interfaces will still be necessary. The future of work will involve a hybrid approach, where AI agents enhance productivity by handling simple, repetitive tasks conversationally, while more complex activities continue to rely on traditional, visual, and manual controls.