Women in Tech: GenAI, Use Cases, and the Future of Work

Women In Tech Vectors by Vecteezy

Why speed, strategy, and empathy will define the future of AI adoption.

I recently had the opportunity to moderate a conversation on “GenAI & AI Use Cases.” The discussion was both inspiring and practical, centering on what it really takes to build successful AI initiatives and how these tools are reshaping the way we work.

Speed and Specificity Matter

One key theme was the importance of speed and specificity in AI projects. In a field evolving this quickly, initiatives that take longer than three months risk falling behind. The consensus:

  • Focus on targeted, high-impact use cases rather than broad, unfocused projects.
  • Align AI with a clear business strategy so that it augments goals rather than dictating them.

AI for its own sake rarely works. But AI tightly coupled with strategy creates outsized impact.

Balancing Automation and Humanity

Another recurring thread was the balance between automation and human involvement. AI can automate repetitive tasks and free teams to focus on higher-value work. But in sensitive areas — like healthcare or customer service — human oversight and empathy remain critical.

Context matters. Trust is built when systems allow for human validation and avoid frustrating loops, ensuring user experiences feel both smooth and empathetic.

Shifting Technical Roles

We also explored how AI is transforming technical work:

  • Developers are shifting from pattern-building to prompt engineering, guiding AI rather than reinventing the wheel.
  • Oversight remains essential, ensuring accuracy, security, and ethical use.
  • New opportunities are emerging, especially in security, where AI’s ability to detect anomalies can safeguard systems at scale.

Adoption, however, will not be uniform. Industries and customer segments will move at different speeds — and leadership must account for that variation.

The Future of Work

Perhaps the most exciting part of the conversation was imagining the evolving future of work. By taking over labor-intensive, repetitive tasks, AI creates space for humans to focus on strategic thinking, creativity, and empathy.

The companies that succeed will be those that embrace an AI-positive mindset — seeing AI not as a novelty, but as a tool to enhance human strengths, build trust, and deliver better customer experiences.

Closing Reflection

For me, the conversation was a reminder of the power of community and dialogue. When diverse voices come together to share perspectives and challenge assumptions, it sparks the kind of insight that drives our industry forward. The exchange of ideas was energizing — and the takeaways, invaluable.

Here’s to the innovators shaping the future of AI and the future of work.

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Jen Anderson is an engineering leader, AI strategist, and writer passionate about building high-performing teams and exploring the future of technology. With experience leading transformations across industries—from scaling engineering organizations to pioneering agentic AI—Jen brings both technical depth and human-centered leadership to every project.

Through writing, speaking, and projects like Ask-Jentic, Jen shares insights at the intersection of technology, leadership, and innovation, helping others rethink how we build, lead, and work in the age of AI.