Artificial intelligence (AI) tools have long been present in the background of many services, but they are now becoming more powerful and visible across a wide range of workplace tools. Microsoft and Google have recently unveiled new AI-powered features for their signature productivity tools, and OpenAI introduced the next-generation version of the technology that underpins its viral chatbot tool, ChatGPT. In just a few months, users will be able to ask a virtual assistant to transcribe meeting notes during a work call, summarise long email threads to quickly draft suggested replies, quickly create a specific chart in Excel, and turn a Word document into a PowerPoint presentation in seconds. AI can make people more productive and eliminate the grunt work, and tech companies are pitching these tools to boost productivity and unlock a new wave of productivity growth. However, the sheer number of new options hitting the market is dizzying and raises questions of whether they will live up to the hype or cause unintended consequences, including enabling cheating and eliminating the need for certain roles (though that may be the intent of some adopters).

It's in the news almost every week now – some new artificial intelligence program surprises scientists by doing something they didn't think would be possible for a generation. And while the possibilities for better health care, transport, and scientific breakthroughs are fascinating and inspiring, there is also going to be a huge process of adaptation for our culture. In fact, it's already begun at the workplace. Take a look at manufacturing, mining, and large sections of agriculture and you'll see millions of human jobs taken over by robots, machines, and more efficient factories. Call centers around the world are about to experience something similar. And the economy is never going back.