How to Help People Thrive with AI

Thriving in the AI era depends less on raw intelligence and more on an individual's relationship with mental effort. While AI can automate rote tasks, many workers face "AI brain fry" as they shift toward constant multitasking and managing an "infinite backlog" of agentic work. Success requires moving beyond using AI for simple efficiency to tackling complex, previously impossible challenges. Organizations can facilitate this transition by implementing structures like Uber’s "Agentic Pods," which pair engineers with domain experts to redesign entire workflows rather than just automating isolated tasks. Ultimately, the most valuable employees are those who treat AI as an opportunity to expand their capabilities and seek cognitive complexity, rather than those who use it to minimize effort. Cultivating this desire for challenging work is essential for both individual professional growth and broader organizational transformation.