7 OCTOBER | LONDON 2024
SEPTEMBER 12TH - 14TH
The O2, LONDON
Future of Work
Your weekly CogX briefing on HR tech, automation, and the workplace

Your next colleague may be a robot
The benefits and pitfalls of automation are key themes in today’s briefing. A new McKinsey report warns that 30% of jobs could be automated by 2030, affecting some 12 million roles in the US. Meanwhile, Google’s Chief Decision Scientist asks why people are so afraid of AI when it has the potential to free up our time for more fulfilling pursuits.
Some employees are clearly on board with this train of thought: two-thirds of ChatGPT users are using the tool secretly, even if it violates their company policy, potentially gaining a huge productivity advantage. Are companies too risk-averse?
Other employees are worried about being replaced by robots — literally. Autonomous mobile robots are cropping up in offices all over the world — cleaning workspaces, greeting people, and making deliveries. Will we regret hiring robots over people?
Explore these topics and more — from the Irish government’s warning about AI’s potential to destabilise the economy, to how the technology is disrupting software development — in the CogX Must-Reads.
CogX Must Reads
By 2030, 30% of jobs could be automated by generative AI
AI adoption doesn’t necessarily mean job elimination, a new McKinsey report stresses; roles are instead likely to be transformed by increased efficiencies from AI. However, it predicts that 12 million people in the US will need to transition into new roles due to advances in the technology.
These four areas of work are safe from automation
AI can’t replicate decision-making, design and innovation, art, and genuine social interaction, argues Cassie Kozyrkov, Google’s Chief Decision Scientist. We have an unprecedented opportunity to leverage AI to free up our time, she points out — so why are we afraid of it?


Future of the Office
Is your co-worker secretly using ChatGPT?
A new survey found that two-thirds of ChatGPT users are using the technology on the sly to do their jobs, even if it violates company policy. Are employers that ban ChatGPT and other AI tools too risk-averse?
Your next colleague may be a robot
Autonomous mobile robots can make deliveries, clean office spaces, greet people and make it easier for remote workers to collaborate with colleagues in the office. But it’s important to consider safety, privacy and ethical considerations before integrating robots into your office.

AI & Automation
By 2025, 80% of product development could be executed by generative AI
Coding assistants can generate boilerplate code, write test cases, check for vulnerabilities and more. As generative AI evolves, developers will increasingly act as orchestrators of coding tasks, while AI completes the majority of the work.
Irish government warns that AI could destabilise the economy and social cohesion
The National Risk Assessment report cautions that automation could eliminate jobs and even entire sectors. It also mentions AI’s potential to disrupt the economy, financial markets and society through the spread of misinformation

HR Tech
Here’s how HR must adapt to AI
HR leaders should experiment with AI tools on a smaller scale — such as within their own teams — to gauge their usefulness. Models should be audited, with special attention paid to mitigating bias. HR leaders should prioritise transparency, to build employees’ trust in new technologies.
Top Stories
In case you missed it
AI is bringing workers back to the office. San Francisco’s workspaces emptied during the pandemic, but generative AI startups are drawing employees back in:
We'd love to hear your thoughts on this week’s Issue and what you’d like to see more of.