What it is
Augmentation is a design and business philosophy where AI is integrated as a "co-pilot" or "exoskeleton" for human workers. Instead of the AI performing the entire task end-to-end, it handles the repetitive, data-heavy, or cognitively draining portions, allowing the human to focus on strategy, empathy, and final judgment.
Why it matters
- Quality Floor: AI ensures a higher baseline of quality by catching errors or providing templates.
- Speed to Value: Humans can complete complex tasks in a fraction of the time.
- Job Satisfaction: By removing "grunt work," employees can focus on the creative and high-value parts of their roles.
Augmentation vs. Substitution
While substitution replaces a human role, augmentation expands what a single human can achieve. A team of three "augmented" employees can often outperform a team of ten working manually.