It’s official: AI is your new colleague, whether you like it or not. Sure, it won’t hog the office microwave or corner you with stories about its weekend, but like any new co-worker, how well you get along will depend largely on your mindset and how well they’re inducted into your organization.

The good news? People are optimistic. Miro recently surveyed more than 1,000 Australian knowledge workers to understand how they’re feeling about AI in their day-to-day jobs. Over half told us they feel ‘energized’ and ‘excited’ by the possibilities and more than 75 percent believe it could benefit their role.

Yet despite the enthusiasm and plenty of early wins, many knowledge workers still doubt the tech’s maturity or simply aren’t using it to its full potential. Our survey found 52 percent describe their AI skills as ‘weak’ or ‘non-existent’ and say they lack the time and resources to learn to fully leverage it.

And while AI is a hot topic in workplaces, 42 percent of knowledge workers say there’s often “lots of talk” but little action, while another 40 percent report their company often abandons AI initiatives after starting them.

The future is here

Regardless of where you and your team land on this spectrum, the trajectory is clear: AI is here, it’s moving fast and those who develop AI fluency will be far more prepared for what’s next than those who don’t. 

Because the reality is, AI is already deeply embedded into so much of our daily lives. The Spotify playlist you listened to this morning was likely curated by AI, the same way your navigation app of choice probably uses AI to map your journey from A to B.

Even at home, my children will often say “Hey Google” before they say “Hey Dad”, while it appears an increasing number of Gen Zs are opting to ‘ChatGPT it’, where they once might have Googled it.

Yet when it comes to the workplace, it’s clear that many organizations are yet to embrace its full potential in this way. So far, much of the AI conversation has focused on individual productivity such as faster writing, quicker content generation and automated tasks.

These are meaningful gains, but they only hint at what’s possible. The real opportunity lies in harnessing AI at the team and cross-team level, allowing it to amplify and enhance how groups collaborate, problem-solve and innovate together. With AI at our side, a team of 10 becomes like a team of 100.

Imagine AI not just as a tool to speed up isolated tasks, but as an enabler of better teamwork, helping to synthesize information across projects, highlight insights we might have missed or map connections between ideas that then lead to smarter decisions. Instead of replacing human contributions, AI can amplify them.

Integration is key

To get there, organizations will need to shift their approach from dabbling in AI to really integrating it, and this requires three things: demystifying the tech, embedding it into everyday workflows and humanizing its role in the workplace.

First, demystification. Our data suggests that while knowledge workers feel largely positive about AI, there’s still room for improvement when it comes to building confidence and realizing the tech’s full potential. Additionally, headlines about AI replacing jobs or upending industries risk instilling a sense of fear rather than curiosity.

The reality is, AI isn’t about replacement at all, it’s about augmentation. Businesses need to invest in upskilling, giving employees not just access to AI tools but also to the education and support needed to use them confidently and responsibly.

This isn’t just a technical challenge, it’s a cultural one. If teams are encouraged to experiment with AI without fear of making mistakes, they’ll discover its potential in ways formal training alone can’t unlock.

Second, embedding AI into team processes. This means integrating it into the platforms and tools teams already use to collaborate, rather than relegating it to optional or standalone apps.

At Miro, we’ve seen firsthand how embedding AI into collaborative environments (where teams brainstorm, strategize and prioritize) can help surface ideas faster, make sense of complexity and ensure alignment across functions. When AI is a seamless part of a collaboration process, its benefits are shared, not siloed.

And perhaps most importantly, humanizing AI. Leaders need to reinforce that AI is here to enhance human creativity, not replace it. People need to see that the goal isn’t to automate people out of their jobs but to enable them to focus on higher-value, more meaningful work – whether that’s strategic thinking, innovation or customer engagement.

Of course, this kind of transformation doesn’t happen overnight. Shifting from isolated AI wins to organization-wide impact requires strong leadership, long-term thinking and a willingness to rethink how work gets done.

For those who invest the time and effort, the payoff is significant, resulting in more adaptive, innovative and resilient teams, equipped with both human ingenuity and machine intelligence.

We have an opportunity to shape AI in ways that benefit not just individual workers, but teams, organizations and industries as a whole. And if we do, AI will move from just being your new colleague to one of your most valued teammates.

Opinions expressed by The CEO Magazine contributors are their own.