Summary

The workshop focused on leveraging AI to enhance leadership and team performance. Seth introduced Future Site Labs' mission to prepare leaders for the future of work, emphasizing AI's role in automating routine tasks and improving efficiency. Dan Chuparkoff highlighted AI's potential to streamline procurement processes, including automated demand forecasting, compliance checking, and RFP drafting. Participants discussed AI's limitations, such as its inability to replicate human qualities like hope and interpersonal skills. The session concluded with a call to use AI as a tool to enhance higher-level problem-solving and decision-making, while protecting and nurturing unique human capabilities. The workshop discussed the importance of retaining critical thinking and discernment in AI integration. Seth emphasized the risk of offloading too much responsibility to AI, citing a Harvard Business Review report that 64% of people received "work slop" in the last 30 days, leading to two hours of rework per instance. Dan clarified that AI won't replace jobs but will change the nature of work. Carla highlighted the need to maintain human qualities like hope and critical thinking to effectively use AI. The key takeaway is to balance AI's capabilities with human judgment to enhance, not replace, our work.

Action Items

• [ ] Ask ChatGPT or other AI tools for one new way to apply AI in your procurement work each week.

• [ ] Explore using AI tools like otter.ai for meeting note-taking and collaboration.

• [ ] Identify the task you spend the most time on and ask AI for 5 ways to make it more efficient.

• [ ] Reflect on what aspects of your work should be protected from being offloaded to AI, and maintain a balance between leveraging AI and preserving human expertise.

Outline

Introduction and Overview of Future Site Labs

• Seth Mattison welcomes everyone and thanks them for their support, mentioning the inclusion of experts this time.

• Seth leads an organization called Future Site Labs, focusing on helping leaders prepare for the future of work.

• The concept of "future of work" is explained as a lens to understand technological and leadership changes.

• AI has been a top focus this year, with Carla and Dan leading unique and impactful conversations.

• The session aims to be a working session with practical exercises, encouraging participants to bring their laptops.

Reflecting on the Future of Work and Leadership

• Seth shares a personal reflection on the exhaustion of constantly staying ahead of new trends.

• Instead of focusing on what's new, Seth suggests looking at what's timeless and relevant.

• Gallup's recent leadership study is discussed, revealing that followers look for hope in leaders.

• Participants are encouraged to reflect on what they look for in leaders and what characteristics they value.

• The importance of hope as a timeless quality in leadership is emphasized, with references to Thomas Frey's research.

The Role of Hope and Agency in Leadership

• Seth discusses the concept of hope as a belief in a better tomorrow and the power to make it happen.

• The idea of hope plus agency is introduced, highlighting the importance of feeling capable of impacting the world.

• Seth encourages participants to think about how they can instill hope and agency in their teams and work.

• The session transitions to Dan Chuparkoff, who will lead the practical application of AI.

Dan Chuparkoff's Introduction to AI and Its Impact

• Dan Chuparkoff shares his optimistic view on AI, emphasizing its potential to drive efficiency and customer value.

• Dan explains the fundamentals of AI, using the analogy of AutoCAD to illustrate how AI can assist but not replace human expertise.

• The session will include practical exercises and discussions on how AI can be used in procurement and other work contexts.

• Participants are encouraged to use AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot for practical applications.

Practical Applications of AI in Procurement

• Participants are asked to share how AI can help with procurement tasks, leading to a discussion on automated demand forecasting.

• AI's role in compliance checking, fraud detection, and RFP drafting is highlighted.

• The importance of using AI to streamline routine tasks and provide real-time policy guidance is emphasized.

• Dan demonstrates how AI can help with vendor evaluation, market research, and other procurement-related tasks.

AI as a Tool for Enhancing Work Efficiency

• Dan explains how AI can help with tasks like creating evaluation criteria, simulating negotiation scenarios, and summarizing vendor proposals.

• The session includes a discussion on the importance of using AI to improve communication and collaboration.

• Dan encourages participants to ask AI for new ways to improve their work regularly.

• The role of AI as an assistant rather than a co-pilot is emphasized, with AI seen as an intern that needs guidance and oversight.

The Hierarchy of Human Expertise and AI's Role

• Dan introduces the hierarchy of human expertise, highlighting the importance of problem-solving, decision-making, and imagining.

• AI is seen as a tool to handle tactical and repetitive tasks, freeing up time for higher-level work.

• The session includes a discussion on the importance of interpersonal skills and the human element in work.

• Participants are encouraged to think about what parts of their work are unique to humans and should be protected.

Reflections on the Human Element in Work

• Dan and other participants discuss the importance of vision, interpersonal skills, and other human elements in work.

• The session emphasizes the need to leverage AI while protecting the unique human qualities that add value.

• Participants are encouraged to consider how they can develop and enhance their interpersonal skills and other human qualities.

• The session concludes with a call to action to use AI as a tool to enhance work efficiency and focus on higher-level tasks.

Discernment and Critical Thinking in AI Integration

• Seth initiates the discussion by questioning what should not be given to AI, emphasizing the importance of retaining critical thinking and discernment.

• Seth highlights the risk of offloading critical thinking to AI tools, noting that advanced users may unintentionally abdicate their responsibilities.

• The concept of "work slop" is introduced, defined as generic, low-quality AI work that requires significant rework, with 64% of people reporting receiving it from colleagues.

• Seth stresses the need to maintain human qualities like discernment, taste, and critical thinking, which are essential for high-quality work and relationships.

• Carla adds that AI should be seen as a tool that enhances human capabilities rather than replacing jobs, and emphasizes the importance of critical thinking in using AI effectively.