Emerging Lexicon of Work in the Age of AI

For lovers of language we’re living through a fascinating transformation in how we talk about work and technology. As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape industries, it’s also shaping our language. New terms and concepts are emerging that reflect not just technological shifts but cultural and philosophical ones. Are these just buzz—or do they capture deep insights about the way we work now and where we’re headed. Below are three recent examples that caught my attention.

The “Laptop Class”

Elon Musk has popularized the term “laptop class” to describe knowledge workers whose tools of trade are computers and connectivity. It’s a term that resonates with a subtle jab—it suggests a degree of disconnection from the physical and operational realities of the industries they influence. Think of remote tech workers weighing in on manufacturing processes or software engineers reimagining agriculture from a coffee shop. Musk’s phrase hints at the growing divide between digital knowledge work and the tactile, real-world jobs it seeks to automate or enhance. Will the ‘laptop class’ be first to be disrupted by AI?

IT as HR for AI Agents

NVIDIA’s CEO Jensen Huang recently offered a glimpse into the future of IT departments, saying they’ll evolve to become the “HR department for AI agents.” It’s a provocative analogy. In this vision, IT will be less about managing servers and more about “hiring,” onboarding, and “training” AI agents. The job of IT professionals will include refining algorithms, curating datasets, and ensuring ethical AI conduct—essentially acting as the mediators between human goals and digital execution. Are we on a path toward unintended consequences involving ethical dilemmas surrounding machine and human rights?

Fusion Skills: The AI-Human Partnership

I recently came across the concept of “fusion skills,” in the Harvard Business Review (Vol 102 Issue 5 Sept – October 2024). Stated as the new capabilities professionals need to thrive in collaboration with AI. Far from replacing human workers, AI demands complementary skills to unlock its full potential:

• Intelligent Interrogation: Crafting prompts and instructions to extract the best reasoning and outcomes from AI tools. This is more art than science—an iterative dance between clarity, precision, and creativity.
• Judgment Integration: Knowing when to let the AI run and when to intervene with human insight, especially in cases involving nuance, ethics, or uncertainty. This is where human values meet machine logic.
• Reciprocal Apprenticing: Teaching AI to work better in specific contexts, essentially tailoring its capabilities to meet unique challenges. It’s a partnership where humans and AI learn from each other.

Will people that are able to write, or speak better, get more out of GenAI?

A New Vocabulary for a New Reality

Are these terms aren’t just clever marketing; or do they represent a shift in how we conceptualize work? They highlight the merging of human creativity, critical thinking, and technical expertise with the computational power of AI. Are you navigating the cultural critiques of the “laptop class,” preparing to onboard your first AI teammate, or sharpening your fusion skills, the language of work is evolving—and so are we. Words matter.