The reshaping of pretty much everything by artificial intelligence (AI) continues, with AI and emerging technologies such as virtual personal assistants and chatbots making rapid headway into the workplace. Research and advisory firm Gartner, Inc. predicts that by 2024 these technologies will replace almost 69 percent of managers’ workload.

“The role of manager will see a complete overhaul in the next four years,” says Helen Poitevin, research vice president at Gartner. “Currently, managers often need to spend time filling in forms, updating information and approving workflows. By using AI to automate these tasks, they can spend less time managing transactions and can invest more time on learning, performance management and goal setting.”

Gartner expects AI and emerging technologies to change the role of the manager and allow employees to extend their degree of responsibility and influence without taking on management tasks. Application leaders focused on innovation and AI are now accountable for improving worker experience, developing worker skills and building organizational competency in responsible use of AI.

“Application leaders will need to support a gradual transition to increased automation of management tasks as this functionality becomes increasingly available across more enterprise applications,” says Poitevin.

Nearly 75 percent of heads of recruiting reported that talent shortages will have a major effect on their organizations—a notable statistic, being that companies have already been experiencing critical talent shortage for several years. Gartner notes that organizations need to consider people with disabilities, an untapped pool of critically skilled talent, and that AI and other emerging technologies are making work more accessible for employees with disabilities.

Gartner estimates that organizations actively employing people with disabilities have 89-percent higher retention rates, a 72-percent increase in employee productivity and a 29-percent increase in profitability. In addition, Gartner says that by 2023, the number of people with disabilities who are employed will triple due to AI and emerging technologies reducing barriers to access, and that by 2022, organizations that do not employ people with disabilities will fall behind their competitors.

“Some organizations are successfully using AI to make work accessible for those with special needs,” says Poitevin. “Restaurants are piloting AI robotics technology that enables paralyzed employees to control robotic waiters remotely. With technologies like braille-readers and virtual reality, organizations are more open to opportunities to employ a diverse workforce.”