enhancing human potential through generative and agentic AI.

AI can do more than manage the mundane; here are 6 ways it gives people a creative edge at work

The integration of generative and agentic AI into the workplace is not just about automating tasks or increasing efficiency. At its core, it's about amplifying human potential, allowing individuals to reach new heights of creativity, productivity and job satisfaction. As people and organizations discover innovative ways to deploy technology in tactical and strategic ways, transformation of human capabilities and their work experience will surely accelerate.

One of the most immediate and tangible benefits of generative (GAI) and agentic AI is their ability to dramatically boost productivity. A Microsoft/LinkedIn study found that 90% of GAI users report that it helps them save time. This time-saving aspect is not just about doing things faster — it's about fundamentally changing how people allocate their time and attention.

One way that GAI and agentic AI create efficiency is by handling routine, repetitive tasks that often consume a significant portion of an employee's day. This includes data entry, report generation and initial draft creation. For example, a financial analyst using these tools to automatically generate preliminary reports from raw data can save hours each week, allowing more time for in-depth analysis and strategic thinking. AI also excels at quickly processing and summarizing large volumes of information, a task that can be time-consuming and mentally taxing for humans. A researcher using AI to summarize key findings from hundreds of academic papers can rapidly get up to speed on a new topic, accelerating the research process.

With AI handling more routine aspects of work, employees can redirect their efforts to higher-value tasks that require uniquely human skills. The Microsoft study found that 85% of users state that GAI enables them to focus on their most important work. Likewise, the Randstad Enterprise 2025 Talent Trends research finds 84% of talent leaders believe robots and machine learning alleviate mundane tasks so knowledge workers are free to do more advanced work  — an increase of 6 points year over year. 

A marketing professional, freed from the task of writing initial content drafts, can spend more time on strategic planning, creative ideation and client relationship building.

By providing quick answers and assistance, AI can reduce the need for frequent context switching, which is known to be a major productivity drain. 

• • A software developer can use AI to quickly answer coding questions or explain unfamiliar concepts without leaving their development environment, maintaining focus and flow. AI can also provide rapid analysis and suggestions, speeding up the decision-making process and allowing employees to make more informed choices more quickly. 

  • A project manager using AI to analyze potential risks and suggest mitigation strategies can make faster, more data-driven decisions about project direction.
    
    

The productivity gains from not just about doing more in less time. They're about creating space for deeper thought, more strategic work and increased innovation. By handling the “busywork,” GAI allows human workers to engage more fully with the aspects of their jobs that are most meaningful and impactful. 

6 ways AI is changing work

Contrary to fears that AI might stifle human creativity, evidence suggests technology can be a powerful catalyst for innovation and creative thinking. AI can assist professionals by serving as a collaborator in that meaningful work, acting as a brainstorm partner, a test persona and more. In fact, according to our 2025 Talent Trends research, 82% of leaders surveyed say they are already using AI to develop strong cognitive skills among their workforce. Among the most positive impacts they believe AI delivers are achieving a greater competitive advantage through innovation and other levers, improving consistency and efficiency, and enabling humans to focus on more strategic activities. These may include:

1. idea generation
People are empowered to rapidly generate a wide range of ideas with AI, serving as a springboard for human creativity. It can suggest unconventional combinations or approaches that humans might not initially consider. 

A product designer using GAI to generate dozens of initial concept ideas can quickly explore a broader solution space, potentially uncovering innovative approaches.

2. overcoming creative blocks
When faced with a blank page or stuck on a problem, GAI can provide initial concepts or alternative perspectives to build upon, helping to overcome inertia and kickstart the creative process. 

Someone putting together a presentation or a training session, for example, can have AI start the framework they build upon.

3. interdisciplinary connections
GAI can introduce ideas from diverse fields or viewpoints, encouraging interdisciplinary thinking and novel connections. This cross-pollination of ideas can lead to breakthrough innovations. 

An urban planner using AI to suggest solutions from fields like ecology or social psychology might discover innovative approaches to city design.

4. rapid prototyping
Quick generation and testing of multiple ideas facilitate a more iterative and experimental approach to creativity. This can lead to faster innovation cycles and more refined final outputs. 

A graphic designer can use GAI to quickly generate and visualize multiple layout options, allowing for rapid experimentation and refinement.

5. amplifying human creativity
Rather than replace human creativity, AI acts as a tool to amplify and extend creative capabilities. It can handle routine aspects of creative work, allowing humans to focus on higher-level creative direction and decision-making. 

A filmmaker using GAI for initial script treatments or storyboard generation can focus more energy on overall narrative structure and emotional impact.

6. breaking patterns
AI can help break habitual thinking patterns by suggesting ideas that a human might not typically consider, leading to more innovative and out-of-the-box solutions. 

An engineer using GAI to suggest alternative materials or design approaches might discover a novel solution that challenges industry norms.

boosting creativity and skills

The creative boost provided by AI is not about outsourcing creativity to machines. Instead, it's about building a collaborative environment where human creativity is enhanced, challenged and expanded through interaction with AI. This symbiotic relationship between human and machine can lead to levels of innovation that neither could achieve alone.

One of the most transformative aspects of AI in the workplace is its potential as a powerful learning tool, facilitating continuous skill development and knowledge acquisition. This capability is crucial in today's rapidly evolving work environment, where the half-life of skills is shrinking and the need for continuous learning is more pressing than ever.

At Randstad Enterprise, for example, we use AI to accelerate best results for clients and empower in support of this mission. A GAI-powered conversational prescreener/scheduler allows our talent advisors to facilitate more natural and two-way conversations with candidates. This is already helping them be more productive and reduce the time to deliver talent. Additionally, we are developing natural language technology that will eventually enable clients to easily get valuable market insights. Also in scope for our Mara generative AI solution is a natural language interface for sourcing from Randstad's registered talent across all operating companies around the world.

accelerating learning on a personal level

More than just boosting skills, technology can also act as a 24/7 tutor, providing explanations, examples and clarifications tailored to an individual's learning style and pace. It can break down complex concepts into more digestible pieces, making learning more accessible and less intimidating. 

A new employee learning a complex software system can use GAI to get real-time explanations and walk-throughs, accelerating their onboarding process.

GAI enables employees to access relevant information and learn new skills precisely when they need them for a task. This approach to learning is more efficient and leads to better retention as the knowledge is immediately applied. 

A marketer needing to quickly understand a new social media platform's analytics can use GAI to get a concise overview and practical tips, allowing them to immediately apply this knowledge to their campaign.

By analyzing an individual's progress, strengths, and weaknesses, GAI can suggest personalized learning paths that optimize skill development. This ensures that learning is always challenging but not overwhelming, maximizing engagement and progress. 

A data analyst using a GAI-powered learning platform would receive a customized curriculum that adapts based on their performance, focusing more on areas where they need improvement and accelerating through topics they quickly master.

As job roles evolve, GAI can help employees identify emerging skills relevant to their field and provide resources to acquire these skills. This proactive approach to skill development can help employees stay ahead of industry changes and maintain their employability. 

An IT professional could receive regular updates from a GAI system about emerging technologies in their field, along with suggested learning resources to stay current.

The impact of GAI on skill development and learning goes beyond just acquiring new knowledge. It's about fostering a culture of continuous learning within organizations, where employees are constantly growing, adapting and expanding their capabilities. This not only benefits individual employees but also creates a more agile and resilient workforce capable of navigating the challenges of a rapidly changing business landscape.

It's important to emphasize that realizing these benefits requires active engagement and thoughtful implementation. Organizations and individuals must take charge of this process, shaping how GAI is integrated into learning and development initiatives. By doing so, we can ensure that GAI enhances human potential in ways that align with our values and goals, creating a future of work that is not only more productive but also more fulfilling and equitable.