The traditional notion of work is in its final days—infinite repetitive tasks, endless meetings, and aging technology. With the rise of AI what we're witnessing today is nothing short of a transformation akin to the industrial revolution. However, AI is irrelevant if it is not operationalized and put into the service of employees. This landscape is dramatically changing with the emergence of AI Work Assistants.  

These advanced systems are more than mere tools; they represent a seismic shift in how we perceive and execute work. Far from being an incremental upgrade, AI work assistants are revolutionizing operational models and offering unprecedented efficiencies. For CIOs and Digital Workplace leaders, this isn't a trend to sit back and observe—it's a call to action. At Workgrid, we're not just enhancing the existing workplace; we're redefining the very fabric of how employees experience the working day. Welcome to a pivotal moment in the evolution of work. 

Years back, digital assistants started as relatively basic tools designed to automate mundane tasks. They were simple decision trees with workflow triggers. Even today, many software vendors' digital assistants remain in this aged model of overly engineered pro-coded workflows. Traditional chatbots were the closest thing to automated support and may still languish within the customer experience arena. 

There was a lot of promise, but many limitations. For starters, they relied on a predefined set of rules and struggled with inputs which deviated from the pre-defined script. These traditional bots were reactive (rather than proactive), always waiting for a user query to provide value. The limited capabilities meant they were bound to thin use case applications – attempting to deflect basic Q&A. When questions fell outside of the limited scope, the user was left abandoned. The lack of a natural language understanding (NLU) meant they couldn't understand the user, turning them into frustraters - then happy helpers.

However, some digital assistants have evolved into sophisticated systems. This transformation is driven by advances in artificial intelligence (AI). Today's AI work assistants are more than just ‘chatbots’; they can act as virtual partners that enhance our capabilities and allow us to focus on what matters most. This includes the ability to handle conversations, questions, intricate tasks, operations, and even expedite decision-making. 

What sets Workgrid’s AI Work Assistant apart is the ability to assist employees proactively. It does this by guiding employees' attention thanks to deep algorithms that analyze queries, behaviors, and user data. These assistants can predict what information or tools a user may need and deliver them. Also providing just-in-time proactive notifications when they are needed most. For instance, imagine an AI assistant that identifies the key notifications and announcements you need to get your day started, or sends you proactive alerts and notifications related to key back-end workflows and processes. 

Better yet, the AI Assistant walks next to you, present in your browser, Teams, intranet – all the places you happen to work. This level of personalized, anticipatory support is game-changing, to say the least.

The real power of AI work assistants lies in their ability to integrate seamlessly into existing digital workplace systems, connecting various data points to provide a unified and fluid user experience. This helps reduce the digital friction of consistent app hopping and context switching. AI Assistants help optimize the experience of your back-end systems, delivering more effective work styles and processes. Whether it is automating routine tasks, closing the loop of approval cycles, or facilitating frequently asked questions to eliminate incidents - AI Work Assistants are setting new benchmarks for what is possible in the digital workplace. 

As we stand on the precipice of this transformative era, the mandate for CIOs and Digital Workplace leaders is clear: adapt or get left behind. AI Work Assistants are not a fleeting trend but will be a fundamental evolution in how we work, akin to the seismic shifts of the Industrial Revolution. These digital allies enhance productivity and foster innovation, making their adoption imperative for any forward-thinking organization. In this ever-changing landscape, embracing this new standard is not an option—its a strategic necessity. 

Welcome to the future of work.