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What IBM Veteran’s AI Warning Reveals About Workforce Leverage

Paul Allen

17 Dec 2025 • 6 min read

Companies spend millions on AI subscriptions like ChatGPT and Gemini, yet 90% of employees remain stuck using AI for minor tasks like softening rude emails, according to Allie K. Miller, CEO of Open Machine.

Miller, speaking at the Fortune Brainstorm AI conference and drawing from her time at IBM and Amazon Web Services (AWS), argues most workers limit AI use to “microtasker” mode, never unlocking its collaborative or autonomous potential.

This behavioral constraint wastes vast AI investments because organizations treat AI like traditional Software 1.0, ignoring AI’s reasoning and delegated agency capabilities. The real leverage is found in moving beyond simple prompting to “AI as a Teammate,” radically changing workflows.

“AI is not just a tool, and organizations who treat it like one will wonder what happened,” Miller said.

Why The Default AI Use Is A Hidden Productivity Bottleneck

Conventional wisdom holds that buying AI subscriptions and encouraging employees to use them will automatically boost productivity. That’s false.

Miller reveals 90% of users treat AI like a search engine that politely rewrites emails or generates simple replies. This static interaction caps value because it overlooks AI’s ability to reason, delegate tasks, or co-work continuously. Why AI Actually Forces Workers To Evolve Not Replace Them explores how this evolution is necessary for true leverage.

From Microtasker To Autonomous Teammate: The Leverage Upgrade

Miller outlines four AI modes: Microtasker, Companion, Delegate, and Teammate. Most employees remain stuck in the microtasker phase, unable to move beyond basic inputs and outputs.

For example, engineers at OpenAI integrate Codex into Slack to treat AI as a true coworker—answering questions in meetings and managing inboxes autonomously. This shifts AI from a reactive tool to an ambient system that lifts entire teams, not just individuals.

Unlike competitors who rely heavily on manual prompting, leveraging AI’s delegation capabilities enables workflows that self-organize around goals, not scripts. This leap reduces human overhead and compounds value across departments. See also Enhance Operations With Process Documentation Best Practices for parallels in process leverage.

Minimum Viable Autonomy: Rethinking AI Integration

Miller introduces Minimum Viable Autonomy (MVA) as a new principle. Instead of crafting perfect 18-page prompts, companies should set goals and boundaries, allowing AI to work backward to solutions.

This requires implementing agent protocols that categorize tasks: “always do,” “ask first,” and “never do.” Miller advises a risk portfolio with 70% low-risk, 20% cross-functional, and 10% strategic automation. This portfolio approach aligns with managing risk leverage in complex systems, similar to Why Wall Street’s Tech Selloff Actually Exposes Profit Lock-In Constraints.

Why Legacy Mindsets Will Lose The AI Race

Miller predicts AI will soon operate autonomously beyond eight hours uninterrupted, running hundreds of thousands of simulations for market launches as costs fall. Companies stuck treating AI like a simple utility will get left behind.

This shift changes the fundamental constraint of workforce leverage: from relying on human prompts to embedding AI deeply as a systemic teammate. Leaders who redesign infrastructure for AI autonomy unlock true productivity and strategic advantage.

“AI will no longer wait for prompts; it will prompt us as part of systems that lift entire organizations,” Miller concluded.

Those ready to embrace AI as an ambient collaborator will build compounding operational engines — while others squander subscriptions on polite email edits.

To truly harness the potential of AI as discussed, tools like Blackbox AI can be invaluable for developers and tech companies aiming to elevate their use of AI in coding and project management. By acting as a coding assistant that understands and anticipates your needs, Blackbox AI helps reimagine workflows from microtasking to advanced collaboration. Learn more about Blackbox AI →

Full Transparency: Some links in this article are affiliate partnerships. If you find value in the tools we recommend and decide to try them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools that align with the strategic thinking we share here. Think of it as supporting independent business analysis while discovering leverage in your own operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of employees use AI for minor tasks only?

According to Allie K. Miller, CEO of Open Machine, 90% of employees remain stuck using AI for minor tasks like softening rude emails, limiting the potential value of AI investments.

What are the four AI usage modes described by Allie K. Miller?

The four AI modes are Microtasker, Companion, Delegate, and Teammate. Most employees remain in the Microtasker phase, which restricts AI use to basic inputs and outputs.

Why is treating AI as a traditional Software 1.0 tool considered a mistake?

Treating AI like traditional Software 1.0 ignores its reasoning and delegated agency capabilities, causing organizations to miss out on the transformative leverage AI can provide when used as a teammate rather than a simple tool.

What is Minimum Viable Autonomy (MVA) in AI integration?

Minimum Viable Autonomy (MVA) is a principle where companies set goals and boundaries for AI, allowing it to work backwards to solutions rather than crafting perfect prompts, using agent protocols to manage task categories and risks efficiently.

How do engineers at OpenAI use AI differently compared to most employees?

OpenAI engineers integrate AI like Codex into Slack to treat AI as a coworker that autonomously s s and manages inboxes, moving beyond manual prompting to create ambient systems that support entire teams.

Miller advises a risk portfolio for AI automation of 70% low-risk tasks, 20% cross-functional tasks, and 10% strategic automation to effectively manage risk leverage in complex systems.

What will happen to companies that treat AI like a simple utility?

Companies that treat AI as a simple utility or tool without embracing its autonomous capabilities are predicted to fall behind the AI race, missing out on strategic advantages and productivity gains.

How will AI change workforce leverage according to the article?

AI will shift workforce leverage by embedding itself as a systemic teammate that can run simulations and workflows autonomously for extended periods, reducing reliance on human prompts and increasing organizational productivity.