AI turns zeroes into heroes

Over a sundowner near the Sundarbans, "Nabila Apa" mocked her nephew's AI-equipped drone for wildlife surveying, insisting her binoculars and field notes were unbeatable. By dusk, the drone had mapped three islands; Nabila Apa was still zooming in on a single kingfisher. Moral of the story: whether tracking tigers or deer, embracing AI beats binoculars every time.

You might expect your office's top performer to leap at any cutting-edge tool, but new research by Ilanit Siman Tov-Nachlieli and colleagues paints a different picture. In five controlled studies, employees who already outshine their peers reported noticeably lower enthusiasm for powerful AI aids meant to level the playing field. Whether they were estimating weights in a simulation, recalling details of a complex task, or working through realistic workplace scenarios, these high flyers feared that AI would shrink performance gaps—anxiety that even eclipsed the promise of productivity gains, despite no extra bonuses being attached.

This reluctance isn't mere overconfidence. It springs from a social-comparison mindset: top performers worry that widespread AI adoption will erode their hard-earned edge. Yet their resistance evaporates when leaders reassure them that AI-augmented outputs will still be judged against existing benchmarks, preserving the status hierarchy. Suddenly, AI becomes an ally rather than an adversary.

Age divides deepen the dynamic. Younger workers, deterred by rapid tech shifts, treat AI like a trusty sidekick; many over-45s treat it like an unwelcome guest. If companies fail to make AI training mandatory, reward AI use, and set clear AI goals, even the brightest stars risk ending up like old Nokia phones—cute but useless. To avoid that fate, organisations in Bangladesh should hold quarterly AI workshops, include AI targets in performance reviews, and host fun "AI tamasha" clubs where colleagues swap tips. Otherwise, the Gen Z crew might topple senior stars faster than you can say "Chatgpt," using every AI trick to zoom past the old guard.

The upside is enormous. AI can process thousands of data points in seconds, automating everything from invoice approvals and report summaries to contract reviews, freeing humans for strategic thinking. It catches errors before they become costly mishaps and turns raw data into insights that guide better decisions, whether tailoring marketing messages or predicting maintenance issues. Modern AI systems even learn on the fly, improving as they go.

Bangladesh stands to benefit the most. In developed countries, automation, AI, and other IT tools are already familiar. Here, many businesses still lack basic awareness and don't yet see how these tools can boost company culture and performance. Imagine garment factories using AI for demand forecasts and camera-based quality checks: they could cut waste and speed up orders. Farmers with smart sensors and predictive software could fine-tune watering, fertiliser, and pest control, and see better harvests in months instead of years. Banks could use automated credit scores and chatbots to offer overnight microloans and support in rural areas. Even BPO and IT firms can move beyond routine tasks: let AI handle common questions and coding suggestions so their teams can tackle more creative, high-value work.

Leaders who want to harness this potential must blend status-preserving change management with rapid deployment. Assure your top performers that AI will augment, not replace, their contributions. Make AI fluency a company-wide priority through hands-on training and peer-led support groups. Link AI engagement to rewards, promotions, and profit-sharing plans so everyone has skin in the game. Then start small: pilot a few clear use cases, measure the results, and scale what works across factories, branches, and teams.

In Bangladesh's fast-paced, price-sensitive economy, the organisations that champion AI will not only boost productivity but also cement their competitive edge. Top talent and seasoned staff who adapt will see their careers soar alongside machine learning models; those who stick to the old ways risk becoming tomorrow's ruins. Embrace the bots now, and watch your people—and your profits—take flight.

The author is president of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh and founder of BuildCon Consultancies Ltd.