Pegasystems Inc.

06/12/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/12/2025 09:31

When AI makes us more human: Embracing our best selves at work

We've come a long way in a short time. I woke up one day and note-taking was suddenly obsolete. Because let's be real… AI can summarize discussions better than I can. Research that used to take me hours is done with a few back-and-forth chats with an AI agent. Even writing this blog, I'm working with our internal AI tool (hey, Iris!) to draft and finalize this post.

What's become especially clear over the past few months: We're not just putting AI to work anymore - we're partnering with it in ways that fundamentally change how we work and live.

While I still have hesitations around AI (the thought of AI taking over the world is not lost on me), I'm beginning to embrace change in this AI era. I'm seeing a world where AI empowers us to be the best versions of ourselves, every individual finding their unique way to partner with AI to drive value. And although it may be paradoxical, I think AI can help us be more human - more creative, more strategic, more connected with colleagues, and more present throughout our busy days.

The paradox: How AI can amplify our humanity

  • Doing the work that matters to you. When AI handles the heavy lifting, something magical happens: You rediscover your passion for meaningful work. That stretch project you've been dreaming about? Suddenly it's not just a pipe dream. When you're working on things that genuinely engage your brain, you're not just more productive - you're more authentically yourself at work.
  • Building confidence, validating your progress. Let's talk about that inner critic we all carry around - the one that whispers, "that's a stupid question." AI has become an incredible confidence booster by creating a judgment-free zone for learning and validating work. Kelly Schermerhorn, Sr. Regional Marketing Manager, captured this perfectly: "From a personal perspective, I started using gen AI as a supplemental well-being coach in real time... I was stuck in analysis paralysis. And so I went to gen AI and we had a chat back and forth about what I could prioritize - progress over perfection."
  • Collaborating in real time. The shift from "Let's schedule a meeting to discuss next steps" to "Let's pull up our AI agent and figure this out together right now" has been a game-changer. It looks like gathering around a screen, bouncing ideas off AI, and building on each other's thoughts in real time. At Pega, we have instituted weekly sessions where our team collaborates with AI on any topic, creating insights, writing copy, and moving projects forward instantly.
  • Being more present. Remember frantically scribbling notes while trying to follow conversations? Those days feel ancient. With AI handling documentation, I can actually engage with what's happening - read body language, pick up on subtext, think strategically about what's being presented. It makes all the difference in a corporate setting, so I can only imagine how much of a difference it can make in various industries. As Rebecca Miller, Sr. Product Strategy Manager, told me: "This could be in situations where human empathy is paramount, such as in healthcare, financial planning, etc. Unified AI and automation guide employees with contextual information and knowledge while automating manual tasks, so they can focus on fostering customer loyalty and serving the customer."
  • Making informed, strategic decisions. AI has become my thinking partner for complex problem-solving, elevating strategic decisions in unexpected ways. When facing multifaceted challenges, AI rapidly processes data, identifies patterns, and suggests approaches I might not have considered. But here's the key - it's not replacing my strategic thinking; it's enhancing it. AI provides analytical foundation while I bring intuition, experience, and understanding of organizational culture.
  • Building on my own creativity. When I hit a creative wall, AI suggests unexpected connections or helps me build on half-formed thoughts. It's like having a creative sparring partner ready to play "yes, and...," helping me crystallize and build upon ideas. What emerges is distinctly human - informed by my experiences and creative instincts - but enhanced by AI's ability to rapidly explore creative possibilities.
  • Creating personalized assistants built for me and my role. What excites me most is how personal this partnership can become. I'm experimenting with creating AI agents that transform how cross-functional teams work together - like a blog agent that streamlines the process to draft, write, and publish a blog. If this kind of customized AI partnership is possible for teams or individuals, imagine the possibilities for organizations, industries, and communities.

Building trust through intelligent workflows: A symbiotic relationship

As I continue experimenting with AI partnerships, a few key principles have emerged that make all the difference - at both individual and organizational levels:

Treat AI like a capable partner. You wouldn't expect a new team member to succeed without proper onboarding - so why expect that from AI? While there's value in treating AI with courtesy (yes, I sometimes say "thank you" to my AI assistants), what's far more important is providing the context and inputs they need to deliver their best work. The quality of AI output is directly proportional to the quality of my inputs.

Design for trust and transparency. Trust isn't built through blind faith - it's established through well-designed workflows and appropriate guardrails. At Pega, we've seen how orchestrated workflows that intelligently combine human and AI capabilities create systems greater than the sum of their parts. These agentic workflow s establish clear handoffs between human and AI agents and offer full transparency to ensure work is being done correctly - not just efficiently.

Think orchestration, not just automation. Individual AI agents can be powerful, but their true potential emerges when they're part of a thoughtfully designed system. This orchestration prevents duplication, reduces friction, and creates a cohesive experience for everyone involved. The organizations that will thrive aren't just those with the most advanced AI - they're the ones that most effectively orchestrate human-AI partnerships.

The future is collaborative - yet still unknown

Let's be real, there's still so much that's unknown, and with that comes fear. But what gives me solace is that our relationship with AI (at least right now) is symbiotic: AI needs human guidance to perform their best and humans need AI to do the laborious tasks, freeing up time for the work that matters.

As we look ahead, it's clear that the most successful individuals and organizations won't be those who simply adopt AI tools - they'll be those who reimagine how humans and AI can work together to achieve outcomes that neither could accomplish alone.

The future of work isn't human OR artificial intelligence - it's human AND artificial intelligence, working together in ways that make us more productive, more creative, and yes, more human. We're not replacing human capabilities with artificial ones; we're creating partnerships that amplify our humanity by empowering us in new ways that allow us to be the best version of ourselves (hopefully).

Ready to explore how agentic workflows can transform your organization? Visit Pega's agentic workflows point of view page to learn more or dive into our research report on The Next Great Leap Leaders Have Not Quite Made Yet.

Pegasystems Inc. published this content on June 12, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 12, 2025 at 15:31 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at support@pubt.io