Human + Machine, Updated and Expanded: Reimagining Work in the Age of AI Hardcover – September 10, 2024

The authors do an amazing job of charting the history of AI and providing a roadmap of its future. They explain technical concepts in easy-to-understand ways and cite dozens of examples of leading companies combining humans with AI to provide superpower. They change the paradigm away from AI as a cost-cutting technology that destroys jobs. Instead, they demonstrate the leading edge thinking where humans complement machines and AI dramatically increases the speed, reliability, and accuracy of humans performing tasks. They outline the jobs that AI can, and should create -- IF we harness its real power. It is a "must read" for all business leaders looking to improve bottom line results.

Pretty good overview of what's happening in the age of AI. Although, at times, the authors seem to be overly optimistic.

Human+Machine is a must-read for anyone curious about AI's impact on business. Paul R. Daugherty and H. James Wilson show how companies can succeed by teaming up humans and AI, rather than replacing people with tech. The book is packed with real-world examples and introduces crucial concepts like 'fusion skills' - essential abilities for the AI age. I especially liked the MELDS framework, which guides businesses in reimagining processes for the AI era. Whether you're a business leader, an AI enthusiast, or simply curious about tomorrow's workplace, this book provides a clear roadmap for business transformation and the evolving nature of work in the age of AI.

Before picking up Human + Machine, I assumed it was primarily for business managers and leaders. However, after reading it, I can confidently say this book is for everyone—from college students to C-suite executives—who wants to make their work more efficient and focus on what truly matters.As a college professor, I now recommend this book to all my students. It's packed with practical insights and examples from various industries that illustrate how AI is reshaping the way we work. Whether you’re at the start of your career or leading a team, the strategies outlined will help you navigate this transformative time and unlock new levels of productivity.The authors, Paul Daugherty and Jim Wilson, have done a fantastic job of breaking down complex AI concepts into actionable advice. The updated content, especially around generative AI, makes this edition even more timely and relevant.Highly recommended for anyone who wants to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving world of work. Thank you to the authors for sharing such valuable knowledge!

Daugherty and Wilson beautifully encapsulate a framework regarding the role Machines have served in various facets of life.In the following chapters, a brilliant case study examines the myriad of industries where AI constantly reshapes our pre-defined roles and responsibilities.Before one can dictate the value proposition regarding Responsible AI, one must first understand our role in this digital age; as limits and constraints are surpassed and continuously reassessed.Humans + Machines is a fantastic read and staple recommendation for anyone within the domain of Technology i.e. everyone.

Insightful book that provides a Gen AI roadmap for the human-centric AI in organization.

If you’re interested in understanding how AI will reshape the future of work and how to navigate the AI revolution, HUMAN + Machine is a must-read. It provides a well-researched, optimistic outlook on how AI can augment human potential and encourages organizations to rethink their approach to workforce management and innovation. While it leans heavily on the experiences of larger enterprises, its core principles are universally applicable to any organization looking to harness the power of AI.

This is an updated and expanded edition of a volume first published in 2018. Heaven knows, any book or article written about artificial intelligence several years ago -- however valuable it may have been -- needs to be re-considered and probably revised, given the fact that the global marketplace today is much more volatile, more uncertain, more complex, and more volatile than at any prior time that I can recall.According to Paul Daugherty and James Wilson, "The key to understanding AI is how it radically changes how work gets done, leading to transformation of business processes...[and] the greater power is in complementing and augmenting human capabilities...The first wave of business transformation involved standardized processes...The second wave consisted of automated processes...Now, the third wave involves adaptive processes as organizations reimagine work in the age of AI. This third era, building on the previous two, will be more dramatic than the earlier revolutions enabled by assembly lines and digital computers. AI, including the latest advances in generative AI, will usher in entirely new, innovative ways of doing business and greatly enlarge the number of workers with access to one of the most powerful technologies to appear in our lifetime."Moreover, Daugherty and Wilson point out, "In this current era of business process transformation, AI systems are not replacing us wholesale; rather, they are amplifying our skills and collaborating with us to achieve productivity gains that have previously been impossible...In the missing middle, workers work with smart machines to exploit what each party does best...In the missing middle, humans and machines aren't adversaries fighting for each other's jobs. Instead, they are symbiotic partners, each pushing the other to higher levels of performance."How do Daugherty and Wilson organize the material in Human + Machine? "In part one, we examine the current state of AI in companies...In part two, we explore the missing middle and provide an executive guide for overhauling and reimagining the traditional notions of work...Finally, we explore the future of work in chapter 9 [the last chapter], "Extending Human + Machine Collaboration: Eight New Fusion Skills for an AI Workforce."These are among the passages of greatest interest and value to me, also listed to indicate the nature and scope of Daugherty and Wilson's coverage: o Introduction: What's Our Role in the Age of AI? (Pages 1-23)o Generative AI in Context (29-32)o Foundation Models (32-36)o No Regrets Bets and Strategic Bets (39-43)o Getting Started (46-49)o Hypercustomization and One-of-a-Kind Components (68-7o)o "A Brief History of AI" (74-80)o AI in Business Processes (86-87)o How Do You Know How Much to Change? (91-92)o Redefining an Entire Industry (95-99)o AI Technologies and Applications: How Does This All Fit Together? (99-109)o AI in R&D and Business Innovation (111-119)o Reimagining Processes with AI (151-158)o Three Roles Humans Play in Developing and Deploying Responsible AI (159-161)o Why Three Roles Will Become More Important Than Ever (181-182)o Three Types of Augmentation (188-191)o Rubbing Elbows with Robots (197-202)o Human + Machine Technologies to Watch (204-206)o Eight New Fusion Skills for an AI Workplace (239-260)o A Call to Action: Reimagining Business (268-273)I commend Daugherty and Wilson on a brilliant, substantial contribution to thought leadership throughout the global marketplace and highly recommend it to all C-level executives and those who aspire to become one as well as to those who are now preparing for a business career or have only recently embarked upon one.Years ago in Future Shock (1970), Alvin Toffler made this prediction: "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn."If you agree with Toffler, then Human + Machine is a must-read for you.* * *Here are two suggestions while you are reading Human + Machine: First, highlight key passages. Also, perhaps in a notebook kept near-at-hand (e.g. Apica Premium C.D. Notebook A5), record your comments, questions, and action steps (preferably with deadlines). Pay special attention to the sequence of mini-commentaries that are strategically integrated throughout the lively and eloquent narrative. "A Brief History of AI" (Pages 74-80) is one of the most valuable.These two simple tactics — highlighting and documenting — will expedite frequent reviews of key material later.