AI and Workforce Automation: How Companies Balance Profit and People

Imagine a factory where robots assemble products faster than ever, or an office where AI writes reports, responds to emails, and plans campaigns – all without a coffee break. Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are already transforming jobs in the business world, promising greater profit and efficiency. But what does this mean for the people who once did those jobs? In this blog, we explore how companies are using AI for automation, which jobs are disappearing, which are emerging, and how they balance profit with preserving the human factor.

1. Where is AI already taking over?

AI and automation are most significantly changing routine, predictable jobs:

• Manufacturing: AI-powered robots assemble cars or package products (e.g., Tesla uses AI to optimize production lines).
• Office tasks: Tools like CMS systems (e.g., WordPress with AI plugins) automate content management, while CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) independently process client data.
• Retail: AI chatbots handle customer inquiries 24/7, and smart checkouts replace cashiers (e.g., Amazon Go stores).

According to McKinsey, by 2030, automation could replace up to 30% of working hours in developed countries, particularly in repetitive tasks.

2. Profit first: Why do companies choose AI?

The reasons are clear – AI saves time and money:

• Efficiency: A machine can work 24 hours without unions or sick leave. Example: AI in logistics cuts delivery costs by 15-20% (e.g., at DHL).
• Scalability: A single AI system can process millions of data points at once, something impossible for a human.
• Precision: SEO optimization with AI (e.g., tools like Ahrefs) delivers better results without the errors humans often make.

Companies like Netflix or Amazon already prove that AI can boost profit – Netflix’s recommendation algorithm retains users, while Amazon’s warehouse automation speeds up delivery.

3. Job losses: Who is AI replacing?

Not all jobs are safe:

• Administration: Writing reports or entering data is increasingly taken over by AI (e.g., Meta Business Suite automates analytics).
• Physical jobs: In factories, robots replace workers on assembly lines.
• Customer support: Chatbots like those on TikTok or Instagram resolve queries faster than humans.

Research from the World Economic Forum predicts that by 2025, AI and automation will eliminate 85 million jobs worldwide. But it’s not all doom and gloom...

4. New jobs: What is AI creating?

AI doesn’t just take – it also gives:

• Creative roles: Tools like Canva or CapCut enable people to design faster, but someone still needs to devise the strategy.
• Technical positions: Experts are needed to develop, maintain, and oversee AI systems (e.g., programmers for CMS or CRM).
• Human touch: Jobs requiring empathy or complex decision-making (e.g., negotiations, team management) remain in human hands.

The same WEF research states that AI will create 97 million new jobs by 2025 – a net gain, but with a significant shift in skills.

5. Balancing profit and people: How does it work?

Companies that succeed with artificial intelligence don’t ignore the human factor:

• Reskilling: Some companies (e.g., AT&T) invest in training workers to use AI instead of laying them off.
• Hybrid approach: AI handles routine tasks, while humans make strategic decisions. Example: LinkedIn uses AI for recommendations, but people manage networking.
• Social responsibility: Companies like Microsoft promote the ethical use of AI to reduce layoffs and support communities.

However, this requires planning. If companies blindly chase profit, they risk worker dissatisfaction and reputational damage.

6. The complicated part: Economic and social models

This is where things get tricky:

• Economy: Automation increases productivity but can reduce demand for labor, affecting wages and consumption. How to balance it? Some propose a universal basic income (UBI).
• Society: If AI takes over jobs in lower-paid sectors, inequality grows. Companies need to consider long-term consequences.
• The math behind it: Models like the Cobb-Douglas production function show how technology replaces labor, but only if capital (artificial intelligence) expands rapidly.

AI and workforce automation aren’t a black-and-white story. Companies that use them wisely – saving on routine tasks while investing in people – can achieve profit without sacrificing jobs. But if the focus is solely on numbers, we risk social imbalance. What do you think – can AI work alongside us, or will it ultimately outpace us?