AI forecasts: how will office environments change by 2034?
Many companies primarily see opportunities in AI applications, as a recent survey by the German-language IT magazine "CHIP" revealed. But how can companies that have a positive attitude towards technology in the workplace use it to improve their office environment?
How will offices be designed in ten years' time? This is what experts from cvapp.de, an online CV editor belonging to the Career.io family of companies, wanted to know. But they didn't just conduct another survey, they wanted to find out how an AI predicts the office environment will change by 2034. They chose ChatGPT as the AI tool and asked it to list the main characteristics of an office environment. This list was initially too long, so they further asked ChatGPT if the characteristics could be summarized into 5 main groups. The characteristics were reduced to workplaces, communication, technology, workforce and office space. And these are now the AI predictions for offices in 2034:
Workplaces
AI predicts that there will be more 'hot-desking' and collaborative workspaces to support hybrid working models. Desks could become compact, modular and reconfigurable to support a variety of tasks. Chairs could also change: AI-powered ergonomic chairs could become widely available to support posture in the workplace. This focus on health will become standard as standing and treadmill desks are also introduced, as well as biophilic workstations with plants that promote mental health.
Communication
Holographic meetings and the use of 3D avatars as an alternative to one's own face could become the new Zoom meeting. Virtual reality and augmented reality will be widely used for immersive remote meetings, utilizing 5G or 6G networks to ensure secure communication. Real-time AI translation could be integrated to bridge multilingual communication in international teams and also enable AI-driven transcription of meetings. Streamlining processes will be a priority for communication as companies will use platforms that combine chat, video and project management. They will also use unified communication systems to combine voice, video and messaging into one interface.
Technology
Technological change will have a major impact on the office environment by 2034. For example, AI-powered assistants could become the standard for automating routine tasks and analyzing data. Robotic process automation (RPA) will also take over repetitive tasks, and service robots will handle administrative tasks such as deliveries, cleaning and managing office supplies. Technological advances will also contribute to office sustainability and security: solar-powered devices and smart lighting systems will become mainstream, and biometric security measures and threat detection systems will improve cyber security.
Workforce
AI predicts that there could be workforce changes in the workplace. AI-supported roles could be introduced to optimize processes and employees will need to learn to use AI efficiently in their job. Alongside flexible working models such as hybrid or remote jobs, new roles for workers could emerge, such as technology and data specialists supporting digital transformation, wellbeing and sustainability officers, and learning and development specialists.
Office space
As hybrid working reduces the daily occupancy of office space, offices will shift to smaller, more efficient layouts. Office spaces will be experiential, encouraging employees to use the office for specific purposes, such as an innovation lab or social hub. There could also be dedicated quiet zones or soundproof chambers to encourage concentration, as well as AR/VR-equipped tech rooms for meetings and brainstorming.
Source and further information: https://cvapp.de/
