Agentrification Is Here: How AI Is Reshaping the Workforce, And What Leaders Must Do Next
GLG Insights | Veronica Grigoletto | July 22, 2025
The workforce isn’t just evolving, it’s being restructured at the core.
We’re witnessing a seismic shift in the labor landscape, one driven not just by economic pressures but by the rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence across industries. Companies like Microsoft, Dell, Meta, and HP are no longer simply optimizing operations; they’re fundamentally redefining who does the work, and in many cases, whether that work is performed by humans at all.
We call this moment what it is: a turning point. The decisions leaders make now will determine whether organizations become agile and future-ready or risk alienating their workforce, stakeholders, and cultural credibility.
From Automation to Agentrification
We’ve lived through waves of automation before. But agentrification is different. It’s not just about streamlining processes; it’s about replacing human roles with AI agents in knowledge work, customer service, and even middle management. The justification is often framed around efficiency.
But the reality? Most companies have yet to build the cultural infrastructure to support such a transformation.
We’ve seen firsthand how this plays out:
Executives making fast AI pivots without aligning their workforce around new expectations
Employees grappling with anxiety, uncertainty, and burnout as roles are “augmented” without context
Leaders struggling to articulate the why behind AI investments—missing the chance to build trust internally and credibility externally
What Organizations Need Now
1. Cultural Foresight, Not Just Technical Execution
AI strategy isn’t just IT’s job. It’s a cultural strategy issue. Companies must proactively map how AI tools will shift power, change workflows, and impact human capital before implementation begins.
2. Transparent Messaging
It’s not enough to say you're “AI-enabled.” What does that mean for the people who make your organization run? Clear communication is strategic armor in an era of realignment.
3. Reskilling That Honors Human Value
The best organizations aren’t replacing people, they’re reskilling them. And not just in digital tools, but in critical thinking, leadership, and adaptability.
4. Equity-Focused Deployment
If your AI systems aren’t designed with equity in mind, they’re reinforcing old systems of harm. Interrogate where, how, and with whom these tools are being deployed.
Beyond the Office: Navigating Public Responsibility in the Age of AI
Taking care of employees is step one. But organizations must also acknowledge their responsibility to the world around them. AI doesn’t just change workflows, it reshapes the fabric of society.
What policies are you helping reinforce through your AI choices?
What ecosystems, education, public media, and civic life are being reshaped or destabilized by your decisions?
Leaders must now consider:
The regulatory landscape: Are you prepared for public scrutiny and global policy shifts on AI ethics, data rights, and labor protections?
The media and culture effect: From public radio to digital content, how do shifts in AI usage affect access to information, creativity, and public discourse?
The economic ripple: What happens to local communities, especially in sectors where jobs are disappearing due to AI adoption?
Companies that view AI as a purely internal efficiency tool will miss the full scope of their influence. Those who take on the role of ethical stewards, working across public, private, and cultural sectors, will lead with clarity and conscience.
Why This Moment Demands Thoughtful Leadership
In a world already marked by demographic shifts, regional unemployment spikes, and the erosion of job stability, from Brazil’s workforce pushing back on overburdening schedules to India’s rise in youth underemployment, this shift is part of a larger global recalibration.
According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, an estimated 92 million existing roles will disappear over the next five years, but this disruption is paired with a projection of 170 million newly created roles, resulting in a net gain of 78 million jobs. However, the same study found that 41% of employers globally plan to reduce their workforce as AI automates key tasks.
The way organizations respond to this moment will determine more than just internal morale. It will shape:
Public trust
Talent pipeline strength
Market relevance in a rapidly AI-integrated global economy
At Glass Ladder Group, we help organizations lead responsibly across both spheres:
Internally, we support cultural transformation, strategy, and training.
Externally, we advise on public-facing communications, industry impact, and alignment with social values and regulation.
Our services include:
Cultural impact audits of AI integration plans
Leadership roundtables on ethical technology
Narrative strategy around innovation and social responsibility
Scenario planning for policy shifts in employment, media, and AI
AI will transform your operations. But it will also reshape your obligations. Your workforce is watching. So is the world.
It’s time to lead with strategy, clarity, and care, inside and out.