As technology advances, questions arise about the potential for AI to take over tasks traditionally handled by human assistants, from organizing meetings to ordering lunch.
AI virtual assistant platforms like ClickUp AI and Wally tout capabilities ranging from consolidating daily tasks to drafting emails, challenging the role of personal and executive assistants. While automation and AI can handle routine tasks, Mansoor Soomro, a senior lecturer, argues that AI struggles with complex decision-making and lacks the emotional intelligence essential for nuanced interactions.
Joanne Manville, a UK-based assistant, believes AI is valuable for functional tasks but emphasizes the irreplaceable human touch and emotional understanding that assistants provide. While AI may evolve, the human-to-human relationship and emotional nuances in assistant roles may secure their continued relevance.
In essence, the evolving landscape of technology raises intriguing questions about the future balance between AI and human assistants, prompting reflections on the distinctive qualities that each brings to the table and how they may complement each other in the workplace.