Making AI Your Ally for Success, Not a Thief of Your Job

By Mai Nguyen, General Director at Groove Technology

Two years into the AI wave, the question I still hear most often is the same one I opened with in our Groove Techies Podcast – Episode 1: “Is AI going to take my job?”

It’s a fair concern. The adoption numbers are striking. According to the Stanford AI Index Report 2024, 79% of global companies are now using AI in at least one function. And in one Deloitte survey Aug 2023, over 60% of computer‑using employees reported they already use generative AI in their daily work (Source: https://www.deloitte.com/ch/en/about/press-room/ai-study-almost-half-of-all-employees-are-worried-about-losing-their-jobs.html). That’s not just hype — it’s real adoption, happening across industries and roles.

Clearly, AI has moved past the stage of “experimentation.” It is part of how work gets done. But numbers don’t tell the full story. From my perspective as a leader, AI doesn’t replace people — it replaces tasks.

Seeing AI for What It Really Is

When I reflect on my own experience, I notice the change in very practical ways. I once spent hours combing through meeting notes and lengthy reports. Today, I rely on AI tools to capture and summarize the essentials. That shift doesn’t diminish my role; it strengthens it. I can step into meetings with clarity, focus on strategy, and spend more time engaging with my team instead of drowning in details.

This is what I mean when I say: AI doesn’t take your job. It takes the boring parts of it.

AI can sort, draft, and analyze, but it cannot connect with people, solve problems with empathy, or inspire trust. Those distinctly human qualities remain central — and they are exactly what technology enables us to invest more time in.

From Fear to Opportunity

The bigger story is not about replacement, but about empowerment. Automating repetitive work creates space for higher-value contributions. Using AI to support our strengths helps us deliver faster, smarter, and with greater confidence. And by approaching it with curiosity rather than fear, we open ourselves to new ways of working.

I’ve seen this not only within my own role but also in conversations with clients. A financial services company we worked with used AI-driven tools to process customer requests more efficiently. What changed wasn’t just speed. Their employees, freed from repetitive forms and manual checks, had more time to focus on meaningful customer conversations. The result was not only happier staff but stronger client relationships.

These kinds of shifts remind me that AI isn’t about taking away human work. It’s about giving us the freedom to do the parts of our jobs that matter most.

The Leadership Imperative

As leaders, we carry responsibility in two directions. For our teams, we must create clarity — guiding them to see AI not as a looming threat but as a supportive partner. And for our clients, we must cut through the noise, helping them move beyond hype to uncover the real, practical value of AI.

Because AI is not just about efficiency gains. It’s about rethinking how we solve problems, how we create value, and how we stay competitive in a rapidly changing world.

This is only the start of the conversation. Through the Groove Techies Podcast, we’ll continue to share insights from both leaders and teammates, each offering a different perspective on how technology is reshaping the way we work, grow, and collaborate.

Mai Nguyen is the General Director of Groove Technology Vietnam, where she leads with a focus on innovation, people, and building long-term client partnerships.