AI and the Biggest Workforce Threat That No One is Talking About

Transitioning from point-and-click to search-based navigation.

[Unobstructed Issue No. 013]

The buzz around AI is big.

We’re in a fascinating era of technological advancement and that means rapid and substantial change. Businesses and individuals alike are racing to leverage technology to get more done in less time. It’s unlocking efficiency, eradicating friction, and… fundamentally changing corporate structure?

However, we're collectively heading for an iceberg that seems to be going unnoticed: information retrieval. On the surface, all seems to point up and to the right when it comes to the changing ways we look for and find information.

The implications of this shift on corporate structure and workforce dynamics are profound.

People are convinced that the biggest workforce threat they face is being replaced by AI — that their job will become obsolete.

While potentially true for some, it isn't true for most.

The real threat is being handed the keys but not knowing how to drive stick.

Dude, get to the point.

Right. Well, in simplest terms we're talking about the difference between the search bar and clicking through the menu.

So what?

from point-and-click to search-based navigation.

Traditionally, information retrieval has followed a hierarchical, point-and-click navigation system. Think of how we use indexes and tables of contents in books.

This multi-layered folder structure has been the norm for organizing corporate knowledge bases and intranets. Enter, the rise of AI. The way we search for and access information is transforming.

Instead of manually navigating through categories, AI retrieves information based on metadata and tagging; similar to search engine optimization (SEO). Essentially, generative AI gathers information in the same way you google for answers — it just does it a whole lot faster and more thoroughly than you do.

The most important point to pay attention to here is that you are not the one scouring the digital filing cabinets for information.

AI is.

And that means it is using keywords, metadata, and content tags to identify, parse, and aggregate information.

We no longer need to organize files by way of human search-ability. We're not the ones doing the actual searching. UX and UI must now be primarily configured for optimal AI compatibility.

This shift necessitates a rethinking of how we structure our internal knowledge systems and the way we train teams to use them.

This evolution of information retrieval spans a multigenerational workforce, each with different expectations and habits based on what they were taught.

Broadly speaking, there are book-informed employees who gravitate toward a traditional, hierarchical approach, and there are screen-informed employees who lean first to the sphere of search-based methods. To go a step further, there are those on both sides who favor quick, video-based content rather than text. This is exemplified most in the use of platforms like Youtube, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat.

Businesses must cater to these varied preferences by offering multiple formats and ensuring information is easily accessible through intuitive search functionalities.