AI start-up Sensay redefines AI roles as employees

Sensay, an AI start-up, is advocating for a shift in terminology from 'AI agent' to 'AI employee' as part of an effort to redefine the interaction and perception of AI-human collaboration in the workplace.

The announcement coincides with Sensay's release of what it claims to be the world's first job advertisement for an AI employee. The job ad, publicly available on Sensay's website and LinkedIn, aims to recruit an AI-powered Full Stack Developer. The role involves coding, debugging, and communication across company channels whilst contributing a unique personality to the team.

The term 'AI agent' is commonly used to refer to software that automates repetitive tasks. While such tasks have historically been straightforward, such as managing appointments or data cleaning, more sophisticated roles in content creation and programming are increasingly undertaken by these systems.

Sensay's founder, Dan Thomson, suggests that the terminology 'AI agent' fosters the belief that AI and humans are in direct competition. "This misconception could severely limit the uptake of AI across the globe," Thomson stated. He argues that by classifying AI as 'employees', human workers may start viewing them as team members with complementary strengths rather than rivals.

The AI employee role at Sensay will involve coding in Next.js, TypeScript, Tailwind, and Supabase, as well as identifying and mending software errors while developing APIs and technical documents. The position also requires the AI to participate in team communications, offering progress updates and engaging in broader discussions.

Sensay anticipates that the advert will attract interest from developers and organisations keen on building specialised AI software to handle the listed responsibilities.

The AI employee is also expected to actively contribute to company communication channels, engaging in project updates and contributing to team discussions with its distinct personality.

Thomson commented, "This is an exciting moment for Sensay. By bringing on board our first AI employee, we're taking a big step toward a future where AI and humans work together as colleagues and collaborators." He further stated that "The term 'AI agent' is too clinical and has contributed to the sense that humans are in direct competition with AI in the workplace. I think the reality is quite the opposite – AI is here to make our lives easier, improving work-life balance, freeing up capacity, supporting creativity, and solving problems we might not have solved otherwise."

Sensay's business is based on the creation of AI-powered digital clones that facilitate automation and information sharing within enterprises, offering personalised AI entity creation through its platform. The firm has experienced significant growth recently, onboarding 2,500 new users each week over the past half-year. Currently, Sensay's AI replicas are engaged in over 600,000 interactions daily.