What if AI wasn’t just a tool, but a colleague? That’s the question Sensay, an AI development startup, is exploring by hiring an AI employee.
According to Gartner, by 2028, a third of enterprise software applications will feature “agentic AI” capable of performing workplace tasks and making decisions without human intervention. Sensay aims to lead this evolution.
“I think ‘AI agent’ is both too clinical and too vague,” says Dan Thomson, founder and CEO of Sensay. “Positioning [these AI tools] as a colleague rather than an external agent, the AI essentially becomes part of the team — something to work with, not against.”
The company has opened applications for the position of an AI-powered full stack developer, responsible for code writing, documentation, testing, and bug fixes. This AI employee is also expected to engage in workplace communication. Human full-stack developers will create the AI employee, ensuring it is functional upon onboarding. The developers will also be responsible for ongoing updates and improvements.
Thomson emphasizes the company’s ambitious approach: “We want to bring this AI employee on board and push it to its limits, demanding the same level of talent, work and cooperation that we expect from our human staff.” He points out “one of the biggest things holding back the full potential of workplace AI is a lack of imagination and a fear of taking risks.”
However, not everyone is so enthusiastic. Employees globally are expressing apprehension about the increasing use of AI, especially concerning job security. PwC’s recent report indicated that roughly 30% of workers worldwide fear AI could replace their jobs within the next three years. Moreover, the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report suggests that 41% of global companies are considering workforce reductions in favor of AI solutions by 2030.
Thomson, however, sees the AI employee as a positive addition. “AI has the ability to enhance and uplift human talents by automating the more repetitive and mundane tasks and clearing room for us to direct time and effort into the work that requires critical and creative thinking,” he explains. He believes AI can contribute to, rather than replace, human creativity.
Sensay anticipates its AI employee will handle approximately 15% of daily work decisions, which could lead to a 61% efficiency increase due to the automation of tasks and improved workflow.
“AI is the future of work and we’re still, relatively speaking, at the starting line,” states Thomson. “Reshaping the dialogue around workplace AI is really crucial to make that digital transformation as smooth as possible, and to ensure that no business gets left behind in the transition.”
