As someone deeply immersed in software development, I believe we’re standing at the edge of a significant shift. Today, I lead a team building what I see as a crucial part of the future of work. But more importantly, the way we interact with software to accomplish knowledge-based tasks is on the verge of a profound transformation.
Fifteen years ago, I managed a physical office where people worked in person, surrounded by the hum of machines and face-to-face conversations. Now, everything is virtual. We coordinate teams and projects through productivity-driven screens filled with buttons, menus, and lists. While this shift to virtual offices may seem radical, I believe an even more disruptive change is on the horizon.
The era of the “clickable” UI is coming to an end. The fixed screens that have helped us organize tasks, boost productivity, and manage workflows are becoming relics of a visually focused past. As we move forward, the need for screens and manual input will diminish. We’re entering the twilight of the screen as the middleman—replaced by more intuitive, AI-driven systems that seamlessly interact with us.
This change won’t happen overnight. We’re in a transitional phase where the user interfaces we rely on will still look familiar. The difference will be subtle: these interfaces will be quietly enhanced by AI working in the background—predicting our needs, streamlining workflows, and helping us complete tasks with minimal effort. Transitional UIs will integrate multiple tools into a single interface, allowing AI assistants to manage the complexities of our work.
It will begin with platforms that allow managers to spend less time in front of their screens. These managers will find that embedded AI assistants can take over repetitive tasks, like monitoring progress and managing timelines. How often do managers follow up to set deadlines or request status updates? These are exactly the kinds of functions AI can handle effortlessly.
However, this transition is gradual. Managers won’t fully disconnect from their screens just yet. After the AI has performed its tasks, they’ll return to familiar interfaces, where the information they need is neatly organized, just as expected.
The first to experience this shift will be those in leadership roles—founders, CEOs, department heads, project managers, and team leaders. At first glance, the transitional UI will resemble what we use today, but it will quietly combine tools and processes, with AI handling much of the repetitive administrative and managerial work that goes into coordinating teams and achieving goals.
The future isn’t about abandoning critical applications all at once. It’s a gradual shift toward systems that free us from the manual navigation of modern work. While screens won’t disappear overnight, their role will steadily diminish as AI-powered interfaces become the norm.
…