Managers in the Machine: Rethinking Management for the Human-AI Era

As AI agents take on more operational and cognitive work, leadership and management roles across organizations are being fundamentally reshaped. Work once owned by individuals is increasingly orchestrated through intelligent systems, and tools like digital twins are beginning to model workflows, performance, and decision-making at scale. In this environment, management is no longer confined to formal roles: employees at every level are learning to direct, supervise, and collaborate with AI alongside human teammates. This session explores what effective leadership looks like in an AI-enabled workplace—where middle managers become critical translators between humans and machines, accountability is redefined, and new leadership skills are required to manage both people and intelligent systems.