Paul Welty, PhD AI, WORK, AND STAYING HUMAN

Managers who use AI will replace managers who don't, says an IBM exec

AI-savvy managers will outpace their peers, warns IBM's Rob Thomas. Discover how embracing AI can redefine leadership success.

“Rob Thomas, the chief commercial officer at IBM, said managers who use AI will replace managers who don’t.”

(https://www.businessinsider.com/ibm-managers-who-use-ai-will-replace-those-who-dont-2023-5)

· highlights

Featured writing

Why customer tools are organized wrong

This article reveals a fundamental flaw in how customer support tools are designed—organizing by interaction type instead of by customer—and explains why this fragmentation wastes time and obscures the full picture you need to help users effectively.

Infrastructure shapes thought

The tools you build determine what kinds of thinking become possible. On infrastructure, friction, and building deliberately for thought rather than just throughput.

Server-Side Dashboard Architecture: Why Moving Data Fetching Off the Browser Changes Everything

How choosing server-side rendering solved security, CORS, and credential management problems I didn't know I had.

Books

The Work of Being (in progress)

A book on AI, judgment, and staying human at work.

The Practice of Work (in progress)

Practical essays on how work actually gets done.

Recent writing

Dev reflection - February 05, 2026

I want to talk about something I keep running into: the moment when you realize the outside of something no longer matches the inside. And what that actually costs.

Dev reflection - February 04, 2026

I've been thinking about the gap between 'it works' and 'you can use it.' These aren't the same thing, and the distance between them is where most organizational dysfunction lives.

We always panic about new tools (and we're always wrong)

Every time a new tool emerges for making or manipulating symbols, we panic. The pattern is so consistent it's almost embarrassing. Here's what happened each time.

Notes and related thinking

The Impact of AI on White-Collar Work

Explore how AI is transforming white-collar jobs, reducing barriers to entry and reshaping the workforce landscape for professionals across industries.

Boosting Productivity with AI

Unlock your potential by leveraging AI tools to enhance productivity and streamline workflows for you and your team.

The Importance of Workplace Relationships

Discover why fostering strong workplace relationships boosts job satisfaction and enhances overall workplace quality for business success.