AI as a Cybernetic Teammate

[#1]

I recently contributed to an article that delved in to how AI is transforming business, but its biggest impact comes from how it works alongside people, processes, and technology—creating something greater than the sum of its parts.

At my company, we’ve explored AI’s potential across coding, testing, and automation, refining our approach before bringing solutions to market.

We break everything we do down to the magic Venn diagram of People, Process, and Technology. Exceptional experiences are created in the sector where these three keys overlap.

People: AI as a True Collaborator

A Harvard study introduced the concept of the Cybernetic Teammate—AI as more than a tool, but a partner that:

• Boosts performance, helping individuals match team-level output.
• Breaks down silos, fostering cross-functional collaboration.
• Supports less-experienced employees, improving decision-making.
• Enhances engagement, making work more exciting and less frustrating

In my organization we see this firsthand. AI helps our teams work smarter, uncover insights faster, and innovate in new ways. Thoughtful integration ensures AI enhances human effort rather than just automating tasks.

Process: Rethinking How We Work

Integrating AI isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about redefining how we work. We’re actively exploring AI-driven capabilities that could enhance how businesses manage payments, including:

• Identifying patterns in financial data 
• Enhancing customer engagement 
• Exploring AI-driven fraud detection 

We believe that these applications don’t replace human expertise—they enhance it. AI frees up teams to focus on higher-value work, improving both productivity and customer experience.

Technology: Building Smarter AI Solutions

AI’s power lies in seamless integration. We’re leveraging AI to improve efficiency, enhance business insights, and refine the core experience of our customers and partners. By combining AI with advanced security and integration capabilities, we’re building AI-driven solutions that meet the needs of today’s commerce

The Future of AI

The biggest takeaway from our AI journey? AI isn’t just about technology—it’s about how people, processes, and innovation come together to create meaningful change. As we continue to evolve our AI capabilities, our goal remains the same: to empower businesses with smarter, more efficient, and more effective solutions. 

Because when AI is done right, it doesn’t just automate. It elevates.

---

How are you harnessing AI in your professional or personal life? Does your company have an AI strategy yet? Are you leaning in to Atlassian Platform AI tools such as Rovo or the AI capabilities in Confluence and Jira to enhance your user experience, speed up the rate of work, or become more efficient? 

I'd love to hear your insights in the comments below! 

[John Funk]

Thanks @Andy Gladstone I love that statement that AI is not just about technology, but that you also included people. I think that’s a huge fact to remember.

[Amanda Barber]

I love using AI as an "ear" when I'm stuck in my own thoughts. Sometimes it helps to "talk" through an idea or work out a bit of code that I couldn't accomplish without someone (something) to talk to! I also appreciate AIs ability to summarize and consolidate information - it's almost an assistant! 

[Andy Gladstone]

@John Funk thanks for the validation. I strongly believe that too many organizations are afraid to adopt AI since the 'users' think that it is a play to replace them. Like in Tron, AI was only ever meant to be an enhancement for the users, not a replacement.

@Amanda Barber I too have started to use ChatGPTto flesh out ideas I already have as a 'Sparring Partner'. But I try to stay away from it creating the thoughts for me.

To keep with the Tron analogy, it was what CLU was intended to be.