Tag Archives: Collaboration

OpenAI’s AI Agent Operator: A New Shift

AI developments are continuing to accelerate and we’re moving more to enabling autonomous complex problem solving. OpenAI’s upcoming AI Agent Operator looks to be a fantastic development in this on-going evolution, with AI agents now handling more complex tasks and processes, with little human intervention – and this has real potential to reshape how we work and deliver value to customers.

Here’s why this matters:

(1) From Task Automation to Intelligent Execution: This role bridges the gap between AI capability and business execution, allowing operators to guide AI agents to not just complete tasks but to now navigate complex and specific workflows. It’s a shift to more fully integrated, decision making systems.

(2) Human-AI Collaboration Redefined: Operators will act as intermediaries, steering AI agents to align with our human goals. It’s not about replacing people but enabling us to focus on the more strategic, creative or high impact areas while AI handles the repetitive or highly technical tasks.

(3) Unparalleled Productivity Gains: AI’s ability to autonomously manage complex, multi-step tasks will unlock efficiency at a scale that we simply haven’t seen before. Think of workflows that can update themselves, customer requests being handled instantly (whilst really being personal) and our administrative workloads lightened.

(4) Integration Without Overhaul: The AI Agent Operator is designed to work with existing systems, not to replace them. This means businesses can adopt it with minimal disruption while benefiting from its capabilities almost immediately.

(5) A New Kind of Expertise: This role introduces a hybrid skillset, part strategic thinker and part technical specialist. It’s an exciting new opportunity to shape how AI supports businesses across many different industries.

The potential here is incredible. For businesses, it’s a chance to rethink operations and invest in what drives real value for customers, and for professionals (us humans), it’s a new frontier of expertise in guiding and collaborating with AI.

This isn’t just about doing things faster – it’s about doing them smarter and better (which we all want). The organisations that embrace this shift early will lead the way.

What are your thoughts on this new wave of AI? How could this change your approach to work or innovation?👇

CIO-DNA part 1 – an event hosted by BCS

I attended the CIO-DNA event earlier this week, hosted by the BCS Elite Group, the BCS London South Group and the IOD. It was a 1/2 day session with technology leaders from different organisations speaking and with some very thought provoking discussions around what makes an effective CIO and CTO, and some of the speakers’ personal journeys to becoming technology leaders.

I’ve summarised some of the key takeaway notes – the fundamental drivers behind what makes a good CIO – from the session below . Let me know what you think – do you agree?

The CIO and CTO roles are now primarily about innovation. The focus is no longer about keeping the lights on.

As technology leaders we need to advocate the creation of an environment in which the team feels empowered to create sparks of innovation.

You need to be fundamentally close to the business and to the customers. They need to help drive the priorities for technology.

A great quote from one of the speakers – “The death of the mouse is only weeks away” – in reference to how important touch is becoming and will be. Interesting point. Yes touch is critical but I think there’s a longer transition for a lot of core technology products and platforms.

Related to touch, devices that are touch enabled remove barriers to entry for C-level executives and help get wider buy-in to new technology services.

Communication and visualisation are key for the CIO to raise their profile. And as part of this we need to be recognised as equal contributors to business transformation. The CIO needs to be the agent of business transformation.

See technology as an enabler to open up new markets and do things the business wasn’t doing before.

The key areas where there are new opportunities, are – smart machines, capturing the real world, mobile computing, touch and cloud. Where cloud can be seen as more about provision and delivery.

Knowledge management will continue to be a challenge for technology leaders, with retiring staff taking know-how with them. This isn’t a new problem though and can’t be changed. Focus instead on the new guys coming in and give them an environment that they can be most effective in – and that doesn’t just mean yes to BYOD. New recruits – and the work force of the future – now have very different expectations for IT and technology.

Develop techniques for managing different streams of inputs and see where they match and where they conflict. Where they conflict, dig deeper – these places show the most interest.

Move away from being a pure technologist and focus on the business transformation agenda. And get proportionately more focus on the profit side of the business – technology is no longer just about costs.

Technology does not have users any more – something I’ve been saying for a good number of years. We need to shift our way of thinking to see them as our customers – whether external or internal ones. We as technology are providing our customers with a service!

Understand what your customers want from the services and systems, and move then to create and deliver that!

Create a clear future workspace vision – that allows the business and teams to be more flexible, work smarter and to work faster. And get the inputs from the business for this – don’t drive with technology.

Technology is about change management with the business, and utilising technology to do that.

Test the vision with the business – and use visualisation tools (e.g. storyboards and animations). See a great example of this by Gavin Walker at NATS below – this part of the session was from Gavin….

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfdES2fKyAU&w=560&h=315]

Position technology as the enabler – to help your customers work better and more efficiently. Get the decisions pushed into the business – to give them greater accountability.

Don’t see IT as a cost centre – the business own the costs and budget. Technology spends the budget on behalf of the business, with the business making the choices.

Focus on change management, not technology.

Focus on information, not systems.

These last 2 very nicely summarise where the focus needs to be for technology. A very pleasant afternoon at the BCS with a good theme and great sessions and as always great networking.

More thoughts soon!

It’s all about excellent service

A great post here that talks very nicely about building a culture of service excellence in IT. Written by Glenn Remoreras – another fellow IT professional – and his blog is well worth a read.

Service excellence in technology is what I’m all about and it brings my passions of great service and the latest technology together. There are sadly only a few organisations that provide great great service, in or with technology but Glenn’s post nicely gives some ideas as to what it takes to build a culture that can deliver.

Glenn highlights 5 key points, as values or behaviours, that you need to nurture and develop in your organisation to deliver service excellence:

Putting the customer first always
Creating a culture of collaboration and teamwork
Being proactive (versus just reactive)
Continuous learning
Creativity and empowerment – for innovation and change

Great points and they all make a lot of sense. I’d go even further and say that it’s not just technology services where these are relevant – but any business or organisation who wants to deliver the best service. And today delivering the best service is what your customers are demanding. Are you delivering?