The future of work is a fascinating blend of technological advancement and human ingenuity. It's like an experiment, where tech companies are constantly redefining the boundaries of what it means to work. Across Future of Work, many stories have been written about how AI, automation and remote work reshaped industries and challenge traditional work models.
While there's a certain thrill to this digital revolution, it also raises questions about the role of humans in the workplace. Will AI replace human jobs? Or will it simply augment human capabilities and allow employees to focus on more creative and strategic tasks?
Future of Work Expo 2025 offers a unique opportunity to get into these questions and explore the possibilities. Future of Work Expo 2025 is part of the #TECHSUPERSHOW, taking place February 11-13, 2025, at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
And I had the chance to chat with Jon Arnold, Principal of J Arnold & Associates, and Conference Chair of Future of Work Expo 2025, who provided insights into what future of work trends he has seen throughout his career. He also discussed why attending Future of Work Expo is a great opportunity to learn about the different forms of technology and how it’s impacting different areas of work.
Here is what Arnold had to say:
What does the future of work mean to you?
This is my seventh year as Conference Chair of Future of Work Expo, so I’ve been tracking the “future” of work for a while. Over the course of that time, much of that future has already arrived, but with technology changing so fast, there is plenty more future that will unfold.
All aspects of our economy are being shaped by technology, and “work” as we know it is no different. So, for what it means to me, future of work is mainly about how technology is impacting everything around “work” – what constitutes work, where it gets done, how it gets done, with whom, by whom, and when. There are many questions to address here, and each is being transformed by technology in a distinct way. Our Future of Work Expo is one such forum that tries to address all of this.
How has the definition of the future of work evolved over the past several years?
The definition has always been driven by technology, where it was initially about how work got done. This was best exemplified by Unified Communications, which provided a common framework across various workplace applications that made it easier to get things done, especially for office-based workers.
When the pandemic came along, businesses had to embrace work from home and the hybrid work model, so the notion of where and when work gets done marked the next evolution for future of work.
Following that, the rise of AI has opened up new frontiers for defining the nature of work itself, and ultimately who will be doing that work. As AI drives more forms of intelligent automation, the next chapter will very much be about how human-based work will co-exist with automated work done by AI-based bots.
What are the biggest hurdles and advantages organizations face in today's changing work environment?
While future of work will be primarily technology-driven, the biggest hurdles for adapting to change lie in how business leaders think about technology. Those with deep roots in legacy technology may have reservations about what’s new, along with making big changes – especially if they don’t trust or fully understand it. While their reasons may have some validity, this could be a holdback for much-needed modernization.
Conversely, for business leaders based more in the digital world, the advantages for making a better work environment are clearer. They are more open to newer technology, and recognize the role it will play in providing the right tools to align with the way people want to work today. This means being able to support more distributed work environments, flexible work schedules, and asynchronous styles of working.
Is AI synonymous with Future of Work?
The short answer is yes – and same for the long answer. The future of work will be increasingly defined by data – how you create it, capture it, manage it, analyze it, share it, etc. Today’s technologies are creating new forms of data that can provide rich insights to solve problems, identify opportunities, and get things done faster.
This data, however, doesn’t have much value – or impact on the future of work – unless it can be harnessed, and that’s exactly what AI does best, and does better than what humans can do on their own.
What specific advice would you give to business leaders to prepare for the future of work that seems to be a constantly moving target?
Mainly that pre-pandemic norms about work and the workplace are not something we can expect to return to – at least for office-based forms of work. That said, even for frontline workers who aren’t tethered to a desk, their jobs may not be changing much, but are being shaped more now by technology.
AI is the main driver, but other forms of technology are playing a big role, such as becoming mobile-centric, or the digitization of the workplace. This means that the future of work is a moving target because these technologies are constantly changing. The best way to prepare for all this is to embrace technology and recognize how central is for shaping the future of work.
How can events like the Future of Work Expo 2025 help organizations stay ahead of the curve and adapt to emerging trends?
Being focused on technology, our event provides a forum to learn about the various forms that technology is taking for future of work. Each form will impact FOW in different ways, and our sessions cover a wide range of these scenarios. Rather than viewing FOW as general trend, attendees will come away learning how specific aspects of “work” are being impacted by technology, and about best practices from organizations that have adapted to these changes.
What are some of the key highlights and experiences attendees can expect at Future of Work Expo 2025?
In terms of what to expect, our attendees will experience a full program of high-quality content from a range of speakers you won’t find anywhere else. I have been curating this program for seven years, and am focused on keeping the topics fresh and interesting.
The “future of work” moniker can mean many things, and our program will equip attendees with a rich set of insights to help their organizations adapt for how work is evolving for 2025.
One of the reasons our program stands out is having a diverse mix of speakers, both from familiar and unfamiliar companies. As a long-time technology analyst, I’m close to the pulse of the leading vendors and service providers, but in addition, I always bring in new voices from lesser-known sources, such as entrepreneurs, consultants and academics.
Who should attend Future of Work Expo and what does the typical attendee base look like (industries, job roles, etc.)?
With our strong focus on technology, anyone involved in evaluating, purchasing or deploying new technology should definitely attend. In larger organizations, that would be senior IT roles, which now often include initiatives around AI, as well as digital transformation and data analytics.
Other key areas would include those responsible for cybersecurity, HR, customer experience; along with LOB leaders and those in strategy-based roles related to organizational change. For smaller organizations, this will often include owners/founders, along with those in IT or network management roles.
As the Conference Chair for Future of Work Expo 2025, what are your personal goals and vision for the event?
My personal goal for this event is to present a program that speaks to the state of this space for 2025, both with updates to core content, and new topics that will keep attendees on the cutting edge. Many of our speakers are happy to return from previous years, and this helps build continuity for attendees, many of whom also return to stay current on the future of work. This also reflects the vision I have for the event, which is mainly about showcasing the most important technologies along with keeping humans at the center for how work is evolving.
How can people register to attend or learn about sponsorship opportunities at Future of Work Expo 2025?
For registration, the event website has the detail here, along with more detail about the sessions, the speakers, and the overall FOW Expo experience. We’re always interested in new sponsors and exhibitors, and the next step to learn more would be here.
Finally, you can follow my ongoing thought leadership in support of the event on my blog, my Watch This Space podcast, and my LinkedIn page.
Edited by
Greg Tavarez
