Web Summit Qatar: Read AI and Lucidya CEOs Explain Why AI Augments Jobs Without Replacing Humans

At Web Summit Qatar, CEOs from AI startups Read AI and Lucidya dismissed fears that artificial intelligence will fully replace human workers.

They argued that AI tools automate mundane tasks, freeing humans for higher-value activities like decision-making and relationship-building.

Read AI's Meeting Notetakers Transform Workflows

David Shim, CEO of Read AI, compared AI assistance to modern navigation apps like Waze, which guide but leave humans in control.

Read AI's notetakers integrate with Slack and email, capturing context to enable faster reports and better customer decisions.

The company's sales tool has predicted deal states, capturing 23% more context and facilitating $200 million in deals.

Lucidya Redefines Customer Support Roles

Abdullah Asiri, founder of Lucidya, emphasized that AI replaces tasks, not roles, allowing agents to supervise AI and focus on business development.

Lucidya's voice AI resolves issues quickly, prioritizing speed and accuracy over whether a human or machine handles it.

AI's Impact: From History to Future

Historically, AI has sparked job loss debates, with studies predicting transitional displacement in automatable roles like advertising.

Yet, these leaders see productivity gains enabling lean teams, as Read AI manages millions of users with just five in customer service.

Looking ahead, companies must hire AI-native talent skilled in leveraging tools, a skillset still developing globally.

Customer acceptance of AI notetakers has grown, with transparency and controls easing initial hesitations.

Ultimately, AI at events like Web Summit Qatar signals a future where technology enhances human potential rather than eclipsing it.