By Amy Bouque, Chief People Officer at Kelly

My team hit a creative wall. We'd been circling the same ideas for hours with no breakthrough in sight. That's when we tried something different—we turned to AI and asked it to generate "outlandish ideas that no human would ever suggest."

When the list appeared, we initially burst into laughter at the absurdity. But something unexpected happened. Those out-there, computer-generated suggestions cracked open our thinking. Suddenly, we were building on them, finding connections we hadn't seen before, and developing new solutions that weren't directly suggested by the AI but were sparked by its outside-the-box prompts.

In that moment, AI wasn't just a tool; it became our wildcard team member, the one who isn't afraid to pitch the crazy idea that shifts everyone's perspective.

This experience exemplifies what can happen when teams view AI as a collaborator rather than a threat. While 76% of workers report AI has positively impacted their work experience, significant worries persist, according to a report from Ernst & Young. About 75% fear job obsolescence, 72% worry about negative salary impacts, and two-thirds express anxiety about falling behind colleagues or missing promotions if they don't master AI tools.

These concerns are real, but they don't have to define our relationship with AI. Instead, I believe in cultivating three fundamental mindset shifts that can help teams move from resistance to partnership:

Collaboration: AI as colleague, not replacement

The first shift involves seeing AI as a collaborative partner that augments human abilities rather than replacing them. At Kelly, we've been doing this for years with our automation systems—our bots even have names and are referenced as vital team members.

Instead of fearing obsolescence, we encourage our teams to view AI as an opportunity to enhance skills and work at their full potential. The technology handles repetitive tasks while humans focus on creativity, judgment, and meaningful connection—the areas where we naturally excel.

Adaptability: Embracing continuous learning

The second shift focuses on developing a mindset of ongoing growth and learning. The workplace is changing rapidly, and we must evolve alongside it.

At Kelly, we emphasize "profitable growth,” making sure what we do delivers value and helps our clients, job seekers, and our company succeed. Similarly, each team member is encouraged to pursue opportunities to grow and learn, and invest time in understanding new technologies.

Staying open and curious allows us to adapt more effectively to technological change and find new ways to contribute value.

Innovation: Redefining creativity with AI 

The third shift involves recognizing how AI can enhance human creativity and value rather than diminish it.

Recently, I needed to create a presentation for Kelly Education (the largest provider of substitute teachers across the United States). I was looking for a meaningful proverb that would resonate with their mission, so I asked an AI tool to suggest some wisdom about collaboration.

The AI offered several options, including the African proverb: "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." This wisdom struck me deeply and resonated perfectly with the message I wanted to convey.

The proverb was so powerful that the education leadership team adopted "grow together" as their priority for the year.

The AI helped me discover the perfect proverb that captured our vision. Our emotional intelligence, judgment, and ability to connect will always be our competitive advantage, but AI helps spark ideas so we can channel our creativity more effectively.

Flipping the narrative 

When discussing AI in the workplace, I sometimes hear concerns that humans will be left with monotonous tasks while AI handles the interesting work. I see the opposite. AI is taking on the repetitive, mundane aspects of our jobs, creating mental space for humans to focus on what truly matters: coaching, connecting, creating, and consulting.

The goal isn't to replace humans with machines but to positively augment human potential by automating standardized processes. By making technological investments and decisions with and for our teams—rather than implementing changes to them—we create space for collaborative learning and growth

Exciting potential of AI

Looking ahead, I envision workplaces where AI anticipates needs, curates personalized learning opportunities, and provides real-time wellness insights. Imagine systems that observe when you download new software and automatically connect you with colleagues who are expert users, or suggest the most relevant learning resources.

Picture AI helping with dynamic team matching for projects, identifying who has the right skills and capacity at the perfect moment. Workspaces might even adapt to your mood and energy levels, serving up what you need when and where you need it.

Humans are always in the loop—we direct, oversee, and make judgments about the AI's output while guiding the technology toward outcomes that align with our values and objectives.

Moving forward together

The future of work shouldn’t pit humans against AI but create partnerships that leverage the strengths of both. By focusing on collaboration, adaptability, and innovation, teams can overcome initial hesitations about AI and discover new possibilities for growth.

As we navigate a time of significant change and disruption, let's remember that our goal should always be to keep humanity at the center while using AI to remove barriers and expand what's possible. AI handles routine tasks and processes data at scale, allowing us to work at our highest potential—thinking creatively, building connections, and solving complex problems that require uniquely human qualities. Those who view AI as a partner rather than a threat will lead the way in innovation, productivity, and creating meaningful work experiences for all.