Episode Details

Will AI replace the people currently providing remote support to businesses?

In this clip from ScaleX Insider, Brendan McGurgan asks Anne Lackey, Co-Founder and CEO of HireSmart Virtual Employees, how she sees AI and remote work evolving as digital agents become more capable.

Anne isn't ignoring the potential disruption. But she also believes businesses need to look beyond the hype and consider the real cost, reliability and risk of replacing people with AI.

For many tasks, having a trusted person who can make decisions, respond and take ownership still provides significant value.

But that doesn't mean avoiding AI.

Anne believes businesses should empower their people to use it responsibly. At HireSmart, she has introduced AI leadership training focused not simply on prompting, but on understanding when AI should be used, where the risks are and how to use it appropriately.

And that requires something many businesses still don't have: a clear AI policy.

For Anne, the future isn't simply AI versus people.

It's about understanding where technology adds value, where people add value and giving teams clear boundaries for using both effectively.

Timestamps

00:00 – Will AI Disrupt Remote Staffing?
01:05 – The Cost and Risk of AI Agents
02:00 – Why Human Support Still Matters
02:45 – Teaching Employees to Use AI Responsibly
03:35 – Why Every Business Needs an AI Policy
04:25 – AI vs Human Remote Support
05:15 – Scaling Impact Through People

Connect with Anne Lackey

Website: HireSmart Virtual Employees
LinkedIn: Anne Lackey

ScaleX / Simple Scaling

Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business
Website: Simple Scaling
Email: hello@simplescaling.com
Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling
Guest: Anne Lackey