Okta's Kelleher Pushes 93% AI-Disrupted Work Redesign as Firms Struggle to Unlock Value
Updated
Updated · Fortune · Jun 1
Okta's Kelleher Pushes 93% AI-Disrupted Work Redesign as Firms Struggle to Unlock Value
1 articles · Updated · Fortune · Jun 1
Okta President Eric Kelleher urged managers to budget for both human and digital labor, arguing org charts and planning cycles must treat AI agents as colleagues rather than software tools.
Cognizant research released alongside his remarks found 93% of jobs are already being disrupted by AI—up from a 90% forecast for 2032—yet productivity gains have lagged, creating an "activation gap."
Kelleher said the main obstacle is managerial habit: companies still optimize for headcount, payroll and reporting lines instead of redesigning tasks so humans and agents share work.
Analysis of 80,000 tasks showed humans still need to stay involved in 90% of them, reinforcing the need to restructure roles around machines handling more transactional work.
Executives at the summit described a broader shift from workforce planning to "work planning," with AI adoption moving faster than enterprise structures built for human-only workflows.
With AI costs now eclipsing some salaries, are companies creating a new class of 'digital workers' that will permanently displace human jobs?
If redesigning work is the true AI bottleneck, what new management skills are needed to lead blended human-digital teams effectively?
As 'digital employees' proliferate, what are the unseen security and cultural risks of managing a workforce you can't see?
The 39% AI Disruption: Rethinking Colleagues, Workflows, and Governance for 2026
Overview
Organizations are facing a profound shift in how they plan and execute work, moving beyond traditional workforce planning to a more dynamic 'work planning' approach. This change, highlighted by Eric Kelleher, is challenging because many companies resist and cling to outdated management mindsets, underestimating the transformative power of artificial intelligence. The report emphasizes an urgent need for organizations to re-evaluate their structures, shifting from seeing AI as just a tool for automation to integrating AI agents as genuine colleagues. Overcoming deep-seated resistance and denial is essential for unlocking AI's full potential in the modern workplace.