February 21, 2026 — Qatar — As artificial intelligence continues to reshape workplaces, industry leaders say AI is likely to automate specific tasks rather than replace entire jobs, with humans remaining central to decision-making.

Speaking at Web Summit Qatar, David Shim, CEO of meeting intelligence company Read AI, likened AI tools to navigation apps. “When we first started, you used a map. Now everyone uses Waze or Google Maps… but you’re the human in the middle who can decide what happens,” Shim said. He noted that while AI may reduce manual work, such as note-taking, employees gain time to focus on higher-value responsibilities, like responding to clients or making strategic decisions.

Similarly, Abdullah Asiri, founder of AI-powered consumer support startup Lucidya, emphasized that AI often replaces tasks rather than entire roles. Agents freed from routine work take on supervisory, relationship-building, or business development duties. “Some employees guide other humans and AI, while others focus on strategic tasks using the time they saved,” he said.

Boosting Productivity with AI

Both companies are leveraging AI to scale output with smaller teams. Read AI’s five-person customer service team now serves millions of monthly users, aided by AI tools that provide deeper context and predictive insights. Shim noted that the platform has helped approve deals worth $200 million by capturing 23% more contextual information per update.

Lucidya similarly uses AI, including Read AI tools, for meetings and marketing content creation. “The goal for any company is to hire people who are AI-native… people who can use AI effectively to scale outcomes without scaling headcounts,” Asiri said.

Building Trust with AI

User perception remains a key consideration. Shim explained that early skepticism about AI notetakers has decreased, especially when users are given control over recording. Asiri added that transparency is critical in customer support: “Customers don’t care whether it’s fixed by AI or a human, as long as it’s fixed fast and accurately.”

Industry experts say AI is most impactful when it complements human work, enabling employees to focus on tasks that require judgment, creativity, and problem-solving. Both Shim and Asiri underscored that AI tools are enhancing productivity without replacing the human role entirely.