The Workforce Shift: Adapting to Ageing, Automation, and AI

The Workforce Shift: Adapting to Ageing, Automation, and AI, was the latest London Business School Think Ahead event which took place on Wednesday 12 February 2025.

Lynda Gratton, Professor of Management Practice in Organisational Behaviour at London Business School; Thomas Gustinis (LBS EMBA 2008), AI entrepreneur and finance expert, and Mary Glowacka, Global Head of Learning and Leadership Development at Rolls Royce, were joined by journalist Stefan Stern to explore how the workforce is evolving under the complex interchange of demographics and advancements in automation and AI.

The panel discussed the future of work, focusing on the interplay between an ageing population, rapidly changing technologies, and the need for lifelong learning. Professor Gratton emphasised the importance of interconnectivity and Generative AI’s potential to level opportunities on a global scale. Mr Gustinis highlighted the rapid advancements in AI, predicting a five to six-year period of human-AI collaboration, followed by AI outperforming humans in many tasks. Mary Glowacka stressed the necessity of lifelong learning and resilience in organisations, observing that for Rolls-Royce the priority was to examine and interrogate the dimensions of future challenges in a very “systemic and holistic way”.

An audience poll, which asked listeners at the beginning of the discussion to identify what skills they were most focused on developing to stay relevant in the workplace – and which included AI collaboration skills, adaptability and learning agility, digital or technical skills, creative problem-solving, and emotional intelligence - revealed a strong focus on AI collaboration skills and adaptability, with emotional intelligence coming in last.

Tom Gustinis and Professor Gratton expressed surprise at the low percentage of responses awarded to emotional intelligence, adding that there is anxiety surrounding AI taking jobs and noting the importance of collaboration with AI to avoid being outperformed. Mary Glowacka emphasised the need for organisations to build resilience and adapt to emerging technologies.

Throughout what proved to be a stimulating, wide-ranging discussion the panel explored how generative AI can be a "great leveller" across different demographics and geographies, investigating how to encourage older workers to be lifelong learners and upskill in the face of technological change. They further examined thoughts on providing connectivity and opportunities for a growing young population in developing countries, discussed the role of emotional intelligence and what it means to be human in the context of the future of work and explored how organisations such as Rolls-Royce can build resilience and adaptability to handle internal and external changes.

Professor Gratton discussed the interconnectivity of various forces shaping the world, including technology, demography, and social change, and emphasised the importance of lifelong learning and upskilling.

Discussion on AI and human performance

Tom Gustinis predicted a future where AI will outperform humans in many areas, but once again emphasised the importance of ‘human plus AI collaboration’ in the near term. Professor Gratton shared the example from her son's experience as a radiologist, highlighting the role of AI in imaging but noting the importance of human interpretation and empathy. Mary Glowacka discusses the role of AI in manufacturing and the importance of trust in AI tools.

The panel then discussed the potential for AI to replace certain jobs but also to enhance human performance in various fields.

Lifelong Learning and Adaptability

Mary Glowacka emphasised the importance of lifelong learning and the need for organisations to foster a culture of continuous development. Professor Gratton discussed the role of education in preparing students for the future and the importance of focusing on the process rather than just the outcome. Tom Gustinis shared his experience of returning to AI and the rapid advancements in the field.

The panel discussed and agreed on the need for organisations to adapt to changing technologies and the importance of maintaining a human touch in the workplace.

The role of business schools and AI

An audience question was posed about whether business schools should embrace or guard against the use of AI tools like ChatGPT. Professor Gratton shared her approach to encouraging students to use AI tools while also focusing on the learning process.

Mary Glowacka discussed the challenges of managing AI use within organisations and the importance of ‘capability building’ over mere knowledge acquisition.

The panel discusses the broader implications of AI for education and the need for a balanced approach to integrating technology into learning.

The Future of Work and Human Creativity

Professor Gratton examined ideas associated with creativity and emotional intelligence in the future of work. Tom Gustinis shared his thoughts on the potential for AI to redefine human value and the need for society to determine how AI is used.

The panel then discussed the potential for AI to enhance human capabilities and the importance of maintaining a positive outlook on the future of work. Stefan Stern reflected on the intrinsic human desire to create and the role of work in identity.

Mr Stern said that preparing for and adapting to the significant workplace, societal, and technological shifts is a challenge faced by businesses of all sizes, all over the globe, acknowledging the thoughts and views of the international audience that the discussion had attracted. These issues are so important, said Mr Stern, that they form the six big global challenges that London Business School is exploring as part of its 60th anniversary this year.

About the London Business School Think Ahead series

Think Ahead is London Business School's event series in which London Business School's leading faculty and other global experts explore today's big business issues, giving you future-focused, actionable insights. To view the latest Think Ahead discussion event, click here