The age of AI co-workers

Montana is stepping confidently into the future of work. With Gov. Greg Gianforte’s executive order establishing the 406 JOBS Initiative, the state is signaling that artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t here to replace us, but to empower us. As AI becomes a common “coworker” across industries, from health care to construction, Montana is embracing the opportunity to ensure its workforce can use these tools to work smart, learn faster, and create more value than ever before. 

At GL Solutions, I’ve watched AI evolve from a novelty to a practical daily tool. Today, AI helps us draft documentation, summarize regulations, and write code. But its true power shows when paired with skilled workers. While AI excels at speed and pattern recognition, people excel at judgment, relationships, and creativity. Together, AI can help business solve problems and bring new ideas to life faster than ever. 

Like many companies adopting AI, we at GL Solutions have learned that bringing AI into a business isn’t like flipping a switch; it’s more like refining a craft. You try it, learn from it, and make it better over time. Along the way, AI has helped us reduce tedious and repetitive work by as much as 60% in certain areas. For instance, we use AI to help with ‘issue intake’ - sorting through customer requests as they arrive. Instead of staff members spending hours reading, researching and routing requests, AI triages the information so it gets to the right expert immediately. This frees our team to focus on the work that requires real experience and insight. 

This human-AI partnership is already delivering results here in Northwest Montana. At Weyerhaeuser’s operations in the Flathead Valley, teams are using smart technology and sensors to catch safety hazards before they become dangerous. Giving them a high-tech 'spotter' to keep them safe. It proves you don’t need a skyscraper in a big city to win. AI gives our local shops the same tools the giants have, letting us compete nationally while staying right here in the mountains. 

In a state with tight labor markets, AI can take on repetitive, time-consuming tasks so people can focus on solving problems, serving customers and developing new products. For manufacturers, it can mean better quality control, faster idea-to-market delivery, and real-time insights into operations. As Montana’s business community innovates, AI will become a tool that strengthens the workforce rather than shrinking it. 

To capture the opportunity ahead, Montana businesses can approach AI the same way we’ve always approached innovation – by rolling up our sleeves and experimenting. Whether we are using it to streamline workflow or improve the reliability of goods, the goal is the same: uplift the people doing the work. 

Just as our timber, software, and manufacturing sectors have embraced new tools to stay competitive, every Montana business can begin integrating AI in small, practical ways. The companies that succeed won’t be the ones with the most algorithms, they’ll be the ones that pair these tools with the talent, grit, and problem-solving instincts Montanans are known for. 

Ryan Pedersen is the Strategy VP for GL Solutions.