Imagine you’re in the middle of Oregon’s lush forests—your laptop balanced precariously on a log because, hey, fresh air fuels fresh ideas. Now, picture the way trees in these woods thrive. They don’t grow because they’re efficient—they grow because they innovate. Their roots spread to new soil, their leaves adapt to capture sunlight from any angle, and together, they form an ecosystem that weathers storms and fosters life.

Businesses, I’d argue, are not so different.

At a recent HR Strategy Forum on AI, there was a lot of buzz about AI and productivity. But here’s the kicker—most of that talk boiled down to “How do we do more with less?” Now, efficiency is important; nobody’s saying otherwise. But when we fixate on headcount reductions as the be-all and end-all, we miss the forest for the trees.

Let’s shift the conversation: What if AI isn’t about doing more with less? What if it’s about doing better with the same—or even more?

The Data Backs It Up

Research on innovation consistently shows that businesses embracing change and creativity tend to outlast their more conservative peers. It’s not just survival of the fittest—it’s survival of the most adaptable. Companies that prioritize innovation—whether through new products, smarter processes, or fresh ways of thinking—reap long-term rewards, including longevity and market resilience. Without innovation, even the mightiest corporations falter when competition heats up. It’s like a tree that stops spreading its roots: eventually, something will topple it.

AI as an Energy Redirector

Here’s where AI fits in. It’s tempting to look at it as a tool to trim the fat—automating what was once manual and cutting costs in the process. But AI’s real power is in freeing up energy. By automating routine tasks, it gives teams the bandwidth to focus on high-value activities like creative problem-solving, deep research, and innovation.

Think of your workforce as a group of skilled craftspeople. If they spend their days untangling the same knot over and over, they’ll never get to build the bridge. AI can untangle the knots—sorting emails, flagging critical communication, organizing legacy data—while your people focus on designing the future.

The Win-Win Scenario

Now, this isn’t a kumbaya moment where I pretend everything will be perfect. AI requires thoughtful implementation. Auto-responses need a touch of human authenticity (a quick reply sent two seconds after a message arrives is just spooky). Systems must be designed with memory, not just so they learn as they go but so they file useful patterns and connections for later.

As we begin to move closer to agentic AI (AI that can take action on our behalf, clear out some of the digital age clutter and begin to act in a more assistive fashion) we will find a lot of opportunities to either embrace or reject the notion that reducing headcount is the ‘success story.’  That’s clearly a trap door. And experience has taught me that companies who go for the quick high of reduced cost due to fewer people, are likely going to find themselves chasing companies who realized that empowering their existing mindshare by upskilling and reskilling people, are going to be the big winners.

When done right, AI can empower—not replace. It can clear distractions and create room for the work that adds real value. For businesses, that means staying ahead of competitors by constantly innovating. For employees, it means moving beyond the grind of busywork to contribute their full creative and intellectual potential.

Closing Thoughts

Innovation isn’t just a corporate buzzword—it’s the lifeblood of any organization. And while AI could be wielded as a scalpel to cut costs, its true potential lies in being a chisel, carving out space for people to thrive. The real measure of success won’t be how many jobs we replace but how many jobs we transform.

So, as the next wave of AI-powered tools rolls in, let’s steer the ship wisely. Let’s use these tools not just to streamline but to elevate—to help both businesses and employees reach their fullest potential. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll build forests that last generations.

What are your thoughts about AI? Nervous? Excited? Have you begun to think about what major reskilling initiatives might look like to make your company an innovator?