Over the past few months, the software industry has experienced unprecedented turbulence and changes, with foreign media even referring to it as the "software apocalypse." Recently, the AI company Anthropic launched a series of enterprise product updates, with its core product Claude being equipped with enhanced enterprise application capabilities. This news has caused a dramatic shift in market sentiment, with the stock prices of many related software companies rising sharply, as the market seems to be beginning to recognize the potential for collaboration between AI and traditional software.

The biggest highlight of this update is the plugin functionality of Claude, allowing administrators to create private plugin markets within enterprises, covering multiple areas such as human resources and financial analysis. For example, the HR plugin can help enterprises manage the entire employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding plans, and performance evaluations; while the financial plugins directly target core tasks such as financial modeling and investment analysis. These plugins not only improve work efficiency but also change the way many traditional jobs are performed in the workplace.

Although the rapid development of AI is exciting, it has also raised concerns about the future of the workplace. According to Anthropic's report, AI can effectively cover the core tasks of multiple positions, which may mean that companies no longer need to hire as many junior employees. For instance, many basic tasks of junior analysts in investment banking, such as building financial models and reviewing documents, may be replaced by AI. While this trend improves corporate efficiency in the short term, it may lead to a shortage of high-skilled talent in the long run, as new employees lack necessary practical experience.

At the same time, the phenomenon of "shadow AI" is quietly emerging within enterprises. Many employees use various AI tools without the approval of the IT department, leading to uncontrolled IT spending and increased security risks. Data shows that AI-related spending in multinational companies has increased by 400% year-on-year, while traditional software investments have not decreased. This means that AI is becoming a "hidden employee" on the corporate ledger, consuming a large amount of resources.

In summary, the rise of AI brings both opportunities and challenges to the workplace. Enterprises need to rethink how to use AI to enhance efficiency while ensuring the development of high-skilled talents. In the future workplace, the collaboration between AI and humans will be an irreversible trend, but how to balance the relationship between the two remains a thought-provoking issue.