Trust, Talent, and the AI Colleague

Dive into the shifting dynamics of the modern workplace in this month’s edition of Expl(ai)ned, a newsletter from The New AI Project that explores the cultural, political, and practical impacts of artificial intelligence. Our AI at Work columnists Ella Trigiani and Annie Zhao lead with an incisive article on how intelligent systems are transforming not just what we do—but how we think. Are we enhancing our capabilities, or quietly outsourcing our cognition? Alongside the article, don’t miss an illuminating podcast conversation with Jen Hall '98, Managing Director at Accenture and expert on AI in the workplace, who unpacks how leaders can harness these tools without losing the human edge. From boardrooms to break rooms, we’re reimagining productivity, hiring, and the ethics of delegation in an age of digital colleagues. Make sense of where work—and workers—are heading next with The New AI Project’s LinkedIn page.

Experience the Episode

Presented by

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 12:00 pm

In this episode of The New AI, Accenture Managing Director and Notre Dame alum Jen Hall ’98 joins student hosts for a conversation abput how generative AI is reshaping the workplace. Hall discusses the shift from experimentation to scaled implementation, highlighting key themes like trust, transparency, and workforce readiness. Explore how AI is changing task structures, decision-making, and the expectations placed on new employees. With insights from both industry and academia, uncover how organizations and individuals are adapting to a rapidly evolving work landscape.

The New AI is sponsored on ThinkND by the Technology and Digital Studies Program in the College of Arts & Letters. This program collaborates with the Computer Science and Engineering Department and other departments around the University to offer the Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science, the Minor in Data Science, and the Idzik Computing & Digital Technologies Minor.

As a Managing Director, Client Account Leadership, at Accenture, Jen Hall ’98 leads with a deep commitment to helping clients turn bold ideas into practical outcomes. With a focus on the Public Sector—specifically State and Local Government—she brings more than 25+ years of experience advising C-suite leaders across industries, including Public Sector as well as Communications, Media, and Technology companies. Her work centers on building resilient, forward-looking organizations through innovation, culture transformation, and talent strategy.

Jen graduated in 1998 from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a double major in finance and history. Today, she specializes in guiding teams from vision to execution—whether that means designing culture programs for 10,000+ employees across multiple geographies or leading the largest Salesforce Net Zero implementation in the world for a global telecommunications client. She is known for turning abstract concepts like innovation and sustainability into real-world results that stick. She’s also facilitated more than 300 executive innovation and ideation workshops globally, supporting teams as they translate ideas into scalable, impactful programs. With a strong ability to connect emerging needs with actionable solutions, she helps clients identify where to start and how to move forward quickly and effectively.

In addition to her client work, Jen has played a pivotal role in internal initiatives at Accenture, including global HR strategy, employee engagement, succession planning, and talent mobility. She is also the named innovation consultant for a major public agency, where she is helping shape the organization’s long-term innovation agenda. Outside of work, Jen is passionate about community service and youth leadership development, actively volunteering with Women’s Empowerment, National Charity League, and St. Francis Catholic High School and Jesuit High School, both in Sacramento, California.

Outsourcing Our Brains: Is AI Making Us Smarter or Just Lazier?

Are we getting smarter—or just more dependent? In “Outsourcing Our Brains,” The New AI Project confronts the creeping tradeoff at the heart of AI adoption: enhanced productivity at the cost of diminished critical thinking. As automation expands into knowledge work, the question isn’t just what AI can do for us—but what it might be doing to us.

To read the full article, please visit The New AI Project on their LinkedIn page here.

AI Agents at Work: How Businesses Are Embracing Autonomy

Agentic AI is transforming business operations, pushing the boundaries of automation like never before. Unlike traditional AI assistants that rely on user input, autonomous AI agents are making decisions, managing workflows, and even representing companies, without human intervention. The potential? Increased efficiency, optimized supply chains, and smarter decision-making. The risk? Job displacement and accountability challenges in a world where AI acts independently. Find out what’s at stake in this AI at Work column by Mary Claire Anderson.

To read the full article, please visit The New AI Project on LinkedIn here.

The Corporate AI Rulebook: How Corporations Are Governing AI

As federal AI laws stall, companies are stepping up, rewriting internal rulebooks to govern how AI is used in business. From risk management teams to “Centers of Excellence,” firms like Verizon are building robust frameworks to deploy AI responsibly and avoid reputational fallout. Read more in Taming AI, a column by Will Mansour and Clare Hill.