Work Redefined: Managing AI

James Gress

Emerging Technology and AI Lead / Accenture

LinkedIn: - jamesgress
GitHub: jmgress
X.com: @jmgress
Tampa Bay Generative AI Meetup
Tampa Bay DevOps Meetup
Tampa Bay Platform Engineering Meetup

Big Picture & Public Perception

What Do People Get Wrong (and Right) About AI?

Misconceptions:

  • AI is sentient or “thinking”
  • It will immediately replace jobs
  • It’s always accurate and unbiased

Truths:

  • It is transformative
  • Boosts productivity and creativity
  • Raises real ethical and legal questions

"AI is not a magic wand—it’s a tool shaped by human hands."

How Can Employers Address Ethical and Practical Differences in AI Adoption?

  • Foster transparency in AI initiatives
  • Establish clear policies for responsible use
  • Promote open dialogue and diverse viewpoints
  • Invest in AI literacy and training programs
  • Form an AI ethics and governance committee

👥 Building trust starts with leadership

Will Government Regulate AI at Work?

Current Actions:

  • U.S. executive orders
  • EU AI Act
  • FTC AI transparency guidance

Likely Areas of Regulation:

  • Bias detection
  • Worker surveillance
  • AI explainability
  • Data privacy

🏛️ It's essential that we strike the right balance in regulation to avoid stifling innovation. As nations around the world race toward AGI and ASI, we must ensure that leadership in these transformative technologies rests with countries that share our values and interests.

🌍 Global AI Regulation Overview

Regulation / Guidance Region Scope Highlights
🇺🇸 U.S. Executive Order (2023) U.S. Broad federal directive Safety, civil rights, privacy, innovation
🇪🇺 EU AI Act (2024) EU Binding law Risk tiers, fines, testing, explainability
🇺🇸 FTC AI Guidance U.S. Existing law enforcement Transparency, fairness, data protection

Workforce & Organizational Strategy

How are organizations balancing the integration of AI tools with the need to retain and upskill existing talent?

  • Investing in AI fluency training
  • Retaining experienced workers through reskilling
  • Useing human-in-the-loop designs
  • Promoting continuous learning

👩‍💻 Human talent remains essential

What are some challenges companies face when adapting their hiring processes for AI-influenced roles, and how are they overcoming them?

Challenges:

  • Vague job roles
  • Outdated job descriptions
  • Overlooking transferable skills

Solutions:

  • Shift to skills-based hiring
  • Use AI tools to match resumes to job needs
  • Partner with education providers

🔄 The hiring process must evolve

AI continues to reshape roles across industries, what skills or qualities are becoming most valuable in new hires?

  • AI literacy: knowing how to use tools
  • Critical thinking and judgment
  • System Thinking
  • Creativity and adaptability
  • Human communication skills

🎯 Soft skills are now power skills

AI & the Future of Education

What will AI education look like for high school and college students, and how can it enhance learning?

  • AI will be in core curriculum
  • Emphasis on ethics, data, creativity
  • Encourage project-based, hands-on learning
  • Build employer partnerships early

🎓 Students will need to understand, not just use, AI

What are some new AI Tools that can be used in education?

  • 🧑‍🏫 Adaptive tutors
  • 📝 Automated essay feedback
  • 🧪 Simulations for science and other disiplines
  • 🗣️ Accessibility tools like speech-to-text
  • 📝 many others...

📚 AI empowers more inclusive learning

How can AI be used to personalize learning experiences for students?

AI can tailor:

  • Pace of learning
  • Difficulty levels
  • Content format (video, text, gamified)
  • Real-time recommendations

🧠 Teachers teach. AI supports.

Are there ways that AI can help bridge the gap between students and employers?

  • Map skills to real-time job demand
  • Build tailored resumes and portfolios
  • Suggest career paths and learning gaps
  • Facilitate internships and job-matching

🔗 AI = Smart bridge from learning to earning

Questions?

Done 100's of Prototypes Taken 10 applications to Production ranging from simple RAG to more complex Agentic systems

_speaker: Emphasize that AI isn't magic—it’s built by humans and reflects our data, biases, and use cases. Clarify the difference between general and narrow AI, and highlight AI's ability to augment rather than replace.

_speaker: Highlight the importance of proactive leadership in addressing employee concerns. Share examples like internal training, open forums, and governance structures to ensure ethical AI adoption.

_speaker: Share that companies should prepare for regulation as a certainty—not a possibility. If they're ahead of it with internal governance, they won’t be scrambling later.

Speaker Notes: 🧠 Key Takeaways: - U.S. EO emphasizes **innovation and safeguards** - EU AI Act sets **legal obligations** by risk - FTC focuses on **truthfulness, bias, and responsibility** This slide summarizes how major regulators are responding to AI. The U.S. Executive Order sets the tone for federal engagement, focusing on collaboration and security. The EU’s AI Act is currently the most comprehensive and enforceable law in the world. Meanwhile, the FTC is leveraging existing laws to keep AI deployments fair, transparent, and accountable.

Absolutely. In fact, we’re already seeing that scenario emerge. Governments around the world are stepping in—whether it’s the EU AI Act, which classifies AI systems by risk level and imposes strict legal requirements, or the U.S. Executive Orders, which focus on safe, secure, and trustworthy AI while laying the groundwork for more formal regulation. Even the FTC is leveraging existing laws to ensure companies are transparent, fair, and accountable in their AI use. But here’s the reality: regulation is only part of the answer. It’s really up to us as leaders to ensure AI is used ethically and responsibly—well before any mandate tells us to. Within the organizations I support, before you’re even allowed to use Generative AI, you must complete training on what you can and can’t do. There are guardrails in place, and continuous oversight to ensure these tools are used in ways that align with company policies and ethical standards. And this isn’t new. Every time we adopt new technology—whether it’s email, video conferencing, or now AI—we evaluate its capabilities and define responsible use. For example: We don’t enable Teams call transcripts by default to protect privacy. We have strict guidelines for using AI features in tools like Microsoft Teams. You're not allowed to ask questions like “How is this person reacting to the changes?” or use AI to assess individual performance. So yes, I do see government regulation becoming more common—and that can be a good thing. But it’s leadership, not legislation, that will set the tone for ethical AI adoption in the workplace. That said, we must be careful not to overregulate innovation. AI is a transformative technology, and the U.S. must lead, not lag—especially when other global powers that don’t share our values are racing ahead. Responsible leadership and global competitiveness must go hand in hand.

_speaker: Talk about upskilling not as a one-time training, but a long-term investment. Mention how AI literacy can be a bridge—not a barrier—for talent retention.

_speaker: Discuss how many job postings don’t reflect real needs. Show how AI can assist in matching candidates, but human context is still key.

_speaker: AI is powerful, but it needs good human direction. Those who can guide, critique, and refine AI output are in high demand.

_speaker: Reference the shift from computer classes to AI and data science as part of general education. Showcase examples like AI clubs or career day AI demos.

_speaker: Teachers aren't being replaced—AI helps them reach more students more effectively. Highlight benefits for diverse learners and underserved communities.

_speaker: Students engage better when content meets them where they are. AI allows educators to personalize at scale.

_speaker: Mention platforms like LinkedIn and Handshake using AI. Talk about future tools that help students explore careers based on strengths and interests.