Don't Just Add AI, Reimagine Work
What 1900's factory owners can teach us about AI transformations
Mark Zuckerberg recently stated that by 2025, Meta would likely have AI capable of writing code like a mid-level engineer. The goal is not to replace engineers but to redesign how software is developed to enhance productivity and innovation.
Revolutionary? Actually, we've seen this movie before.
When electricity first arrived, factory owners simply swapped their steam engines for electric motors. The result? Almost no productivity gain. Sound familiar to companies just dropping AI into existing processes?
The real breakthrough came when factory owners stopped trying to make electricity fit their old ways of working. Instead, they reimagined their entire operation:
Individual machines could run independently (not tied to one central engine)
Production lines could be reorganized for efficiency (rather than designing around power delivery)
Workers could focus on skilled tasks while machines handled the heavy lifting
This wasn't just a technology upgrade - it was a complete rethinking of how factories could work.
Meta is applying this same thinking with AI. Instead of just using AI to write code faster, they're rebuilding their entire development process:
AI handles repetitive tasks (like writing basic functions and fixing bugs)
Engineers focus on innovation (like designing new features and user experiences)
Teams shift from typing code to directing AI systems
The Main Lesson
The electricity revolution separated companies into those that merely electrified their steam-powered processes and those that reimagined what was possible. The AI revolution will do the same. The winners won't be those with the most advanced AI tools - they'll be those who dare to fundamentally rethink how work gets done.
Your Next Move
Look at how work flows through your team today. Where are the bottlenecks? What tasks are routine versus truly creative? Then ask: "If AI handled all routine tasks, how would you reorganize your team?"