Moving from Assistants to an AI Workforce
02/04/25 • 42 min
In this final episode of a three-part series, hosts JC Bonilla and Ardis Kadiu explore how AI is transforming the workplace in higher education. They discuss the emergence of AI as digital workers, examining how these systems are evolving from simple task automation to becoming integral team members. The hosts share insights on managing AI workers, the changing role of human employees, and what this means for the future of work in education. This episode offers valuable perspective for education professionals looking to understand and prepare for a workplace where humans and AI collaborate as teammates.
Series Recap and Context
- Introduction to the third episode on AI workforce evolution
- Overview of previous episodes on agentic systems and multi-agent frameworks
- Introduction of the TACO framework: Taskers, Assistants, Collaborators, Orchestrators
Understanding AI Workers
- Definition of AI workers as digital teammates
- Comparison between human employees and AI workers
- Discussion of how AI workers integrate into organizational structures
- Analysis of bottom-up approach to AI implementation
AI Worker Management
- Treating AI systems as employees with goals and performance metrics
- Importance of onboarding and training AI workers
- Need for continuous evaluation and maintenance
- Discussion of autonomous versus assisted AI work
Real-World Applications
- Example of AI admissions counselor implementation
- Analysis of how AI can handle application evaluations
- Discussion of automation in admission processes
- Comparison with traditional human evaluation methods
Management Hierarchy and AI
- Exploration of AI in management roles
- Discussion of complexity in decision-making
- Analysis of current limitations in AI management capabilities
- Future possibilities for AI in leadership positions
Human Role in AI Workplace
- Shift from task execution to strategic thinking
- World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs report insights
- Discussion of skills needed in AI-enhanced workplace
- Focus on human skills like emotional intelligence and creativity
Challenges and Considerations
- Governance and oversight requirements
- 24/7 productivity expectations and limitations
- Trust and accountability frameworks
- Need for continuous learning and adaptation
Future Outlook and Implementation
- IT as the new HR in managing AI workers
- Importance of reskilling existing workforce
- Discussion of hybrid human-AI collaboration
- Vision for future workplace dynamics
Closing Thoughts
- Summary of key takeaways
- Importance of embracing AI collaboration
- Call for audience engagement and feedback
- Looking ahead to future developments
- - -
Connect With Our Co-Hosts:
Ardis Kadiu
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ardis/
https://twitter.com/ardis
Dr. JC Bonilla
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcbonilla/
https://twitter.com/jbonillx
About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Generation AI is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!
Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.
Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
In this final episode of a three-part series, hosts JC Bonilla and Ardis Kadiu explore how AI is transforming the workplace in higher education. They discuss the emergence of AI as digital workers, examining how these systems are evolving from simple task automation to becoming integral team members. The hosts share insights on managing AI workers, the changing role of human employees, and what this means for the future of work in education. This episode offers valuable perspective for education professionals looking to understand and prepare for a workplace where humans and AI collaborate as teammates.
Series Recap and Context
- Introduction to the third episode on AI workforce evolution
- Overview of previous episodes on agentic systems and multi-agent frameworks
- Introduction of the TACO framework: Taskers, Assistants, Collaborators, Orchestrators
Understanding AI Workers
- Definition of AI workers as digital teammates
- Comparison between human employees and AI workers
- Discussion of how AI workers integrate into organizational structures
- Analysis of bottom-up approach to AI implementation
AI Worker Management
- Treating AI systems as employees with goals and performance metrics
- Importance of onboarding and training AI workers
- Need for continuous evaluation and maintenance
- Discussion of autonomous versus assisted AI work
Real-World Applications
- Example of AI admissions counselor implementation
- Analysis of how AI can handle application evaluations
- Discussion of automation in admission processes
- Comparison with traditional human evaluation methods
Management Hierarchy and AI
- Exploration of AI in management roles
- Discussion of complexity in decision-making
- Analysis of current limitations in AI management capabilities
- Future possibilities for AI in leadership positions
Human Role in AI Workplace
- Shift from task execution to strategic thinking
- World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs report insights
- Discussion of skills needed in AI-enhanced workplace
- Focus on human skills like emotional intelligence and creativity
Challenges and Considerations
- Governance and oversight requirements
- 24/7 productivity expectations and limitations
- Trust and accountability frameworks
- Need for continuous learning and adaptation
Future Outlook and Implementation
- IT as the new HR in managing AI workers
- Importance of reskilling existing workforce
- Discussion of hybrid human-AI collaboration
- Vision for future workplace dynamics
Closing Thoughts
- Summary of key takeaways
- Importance of embracing AI collaboration
- Call for audience engagement and feedback
- Looking ahead to future developments
- - -
Connect With Our Co-Hosts:
Ardis Kadiu
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ardis/
https://twitter.com/ardis
Dr. JC Bonilla
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcbonilla/
https://twitter.com/jbonillx
About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Generation AI is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!
Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.
Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
Previous Episode
Multi-Agent AI Systems
In this second installment of a three-part series, hosts JC Bonilla and Ardis Kadiu examine how multiple AI agents can work together as coordinated teams. Using Element's Campaign Manager as a real-world example, they show how AI agents can mirror human marketing team structures and workflows. The hosts break down ROI measurement frameworks for these systems and discuss why higher education is still in early adoption. Through practical examples and clear explanations, this episode helps listeners understand the shift from single AI assistants to collaborative AI systems that can handle complex, multi-step tasks.
Series Context and Episode 1 Recap (00:00:06)
- Continuation of 3-episode series on AI agents
- Episode 1 became required listening at Element
- Foundation concepts: reason, adapt, and action
- Vertical vs horizontal AI solutions approach
Multi-Agent Systems Explained (00:08:12)
- Breakdown of agent vs assistant definitions
- How specialized agents work together
- Task distribution and hierarchy systems
- Comparison to human organizational structures
Campaign Manager Case Study (00:10:09)
- Element's real-world implementation example
- Multiple specialized roles working together:
- Campaign strategist agent
- Content writer agent
- Art director agent
- HTML builder agent
- How agents pass work between each other
- Integration with existing systems
ROI Measurement Frameworks (00:27:00)
- Three approaches to measuring success:
- Performance comparison with human work
- Financial outcomes and cost savings
- Organization-wide productivity gains
- How AI changes work output benchmarks
- New metrics for productivity measurement
Industry Adoption Analysis (00:35:41)
- Current state of multi-agent implementation
- Examples from marketing, engineering, customer support
- Higher education adoption challenges
- Need for institutional mindset changes
Human Role Evolution (00:40:25)
- Changes in day-to-day work with AI support
- Shift from individual work to AI orchestration
- Impact on job roles and responsibilities
- Future of human-AI collaboration
Episode 3 Preview (00:45:46)
- Coming discussion on AI workforce management
- Organizational change considerations
- IT departments' evolving role
- Future workplace predictions
- Research-based insights on AI integration
- - -
Connect With Our Co-Hosts:
Ardis Kadiu
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ardis/
https://twitter.com/ardis
Dr. JC Bonilla
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcbonilla/
https://twitter.com/jbonillx
About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Generation AI is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!
Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.
Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
Next Episode
AI's Sputnik moment + Deepseek, CSU partners with OpenAI, ChatGP Operator + Deep Research
In this packed episode of Generation AI, hosts Ardis Kadiu and Dr. JC Bonilla break down three major developments shaking up AI in higher education. They analyze California State University's groundbreaking partnership with OpenAI to provide ChatGPT Enterprise to over 500,000 students across 23 campuses. The hosts also dig into DeepSeek's stunning $6 million AI model that's disrupting the market and sparking what some call AI's "Sputnik moment." Finally, they explore OpenAI's latest innovations including Operator and Deep Search, showing how these AI agents are transforming research and automation. This episode offers essential insights for higher education professionals trying to understand how these rapid AI developments will impact their institutions.
CSU's Game-Changing OpenAI Partnership (00:01:36)
- Partnership brings ChatGPT Enterprise to 500,000+ students across 23 campuses
- Creation of AI Common Hub for centralized tools and training
- Focus on faculty empowerment and workforce development through AI
- Implementation challenges across a large, distributed system
The Past Three Weeks in AI (00:13:23)
- Discussion of recent developments in AI technology
- Analysis of rapid acceleration in AI capabilities
- Impact on higher education and institutional adoption
DeepSeek: AI's Sputnik Moment (00:13:55)
- Introduction of DeepSeek's new AI model and its capabilities
- Analysis of the $6 million training cost breakthrough
- Discussion of geopolitical implications and US-China AI competition
- Explanation of open source model vs. hosted service distinctions
OpenAI's New Agent Technologies (00:25:11)
- Introduction of OpenAI's scheduled tasks feature
- Analysis of Operator: AI-powered browser automation
- Discussion of security and trust considerations
- Real-world applications in higher education
Deep Search: The Research Revolution (00:34:52)
- Detailed breakdown of OpenAI's Deep Search capabilities
- Comparison with Google's Gemini Deep Research
- Real-world example of ICP research automation
- Cost-benefit analysis of AI research tools
- Impact on academic and professional research
Looking Ahead: AI in Higher Education (00:41:11)
- Discussion of future implications for institutions
- Integration challenges and opportunities
- Importance of AI literacy and training
- Upcoming AI Engaged Summit announcement
- - -
Connect With Our Co-Hosts:
Ardis Kadiu
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ardis/
https://twitter.com/ardis
Dr. JC Bonilla
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcbonilla/
https://twitter.com/jbonillx
About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Generation AI is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!
Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.
Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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