Could the Future of Teamwork Include Circuits and Code?

Blog – April 08, 2025, Fourth Week Honors Seminar

What if your next teammate didn’t clock in—but booted up?

This week in our honors seminar, hosted by Prof. Dr. Jana Görmer-Redding, we explored that very possibility—not as some distant sci-fi fantasy, but as a reality already taking shape around us. The idea? “Double Teaming”—humans and AI working side by side, not just to boost productivity, but to create something more meaningful. When AI takes on the repetitive tasks, we get to show up fully—with our empathy, our ideas, and our wonderfully weird humanness.

And as we rethink what collaboration looks like, here’s a fun twist: can you tell where the human ends and the AI begins in what you’re about to read?

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What Happens When Machines Join the Team?

We started by asking not whether AI belongs at the table, but how it could help us thrive there. This mindset shift—from anxiety to optimism—reshaped everything. It wasn’t about machines replacing us. It was about machines partnering with us.

Through discussion, we explored how intelligent systems might challenge traditional ideas of collaboration. The standout idea? That AI, when paired with humans, becomes a creative ally, not just a tool. It can’t feel, it can’t judge, it can’t imagine—but that’s exactly why we matter. We offer what AI lacks: intuition, emotion, depth.

One insight that hit hard was the realization that AI reflects us. During a prompt experiment—translating the German phrase “Team – Toll, ein anderer macht’s”—we saw how dramatically the tone and results changed based on how the question was asked. AI isn’t neutral; it mirrors our intentions. That was a wake-up call.

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Are We Ready for a Future Where AI Sits at the Table?

The heart of this session wasn’t just theory. It was deeply real. We all brought personal worries to the table—especially about our futures. Students in fields like engineering or finance admitted to quiet fears that years of study might be outpaced by a machine’s code.

But by the end of the seminar, those fears felt less final. Instead of worrying whether AI would replace us, we asked how it might enhance us. We saw it not as competition, but as collaboration. It can automate the mundane—calendars, drafts, code—so we can solve bigger problems. It gives us space for strategy, reflection, even rest.

One student said it best: “AI can’t compete with a good team.” And that feels like the truth. We’re not stepping aside. We’re stepping up—with help.

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What Does Collaboration Look Like When Humans and Machines Join Forces?

Looking around, we saw that this isn’t hypothetical. It’s already happening. From smart TVs and EVs to playlists, espresso makers, and homework help—AI’s fingerprints are everywhere. Most of us had already leaned on AI this week, some even to write this very blog.

That raised a key point: responsibility. Optimism doesn’t mean blindness. We looked at the six ethical pillars—confidentiality, integrity, availability, authenticity, non-repudiation, and accountability. AI tools can’t always trace sources or verify facts. That’s our job. AI gives suggestions; we decide what’s true, what’s ethical, and what matters.

Still, when used with care, AI can help us be more human, not less.

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Will Your Next Brainstorming Partner Be an Algorithm?

As we wrapped up, one of the most powerful reflections came from acknowledging that even the act of writing this post had become a hybrid experience. We brainstormed, then let AI help shape the tone, refine the wording, and tighten the structure. But the voice? The insight? That’s still ours.

And maybe that’s the point.

The future of teamwork isn’t about picking sides—it’s about amplifying strengths. We bring context, creativity, conscience. AI brings speed, memory, and structure. When we co-create, we make room for deeper work, wilder ideas, and better outcomes.

So maybe your next collaborator won’t just be a classmate or coworker. Maybe it’ll be code.

And maybe, just maybe, that’s something to be excited about.

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“You cannot compete against a diverse team of smart humans and smart machines having fun together.”

Recommended Books, Podcasts, and Movies

Books

• I, Robot – Isaac Asimov
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
• Neuromancer – William Gibson
• The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress – Robert A. Heinlein 5. *The Singularity is Near* – Ray Kurzweil

Podcasts

• AI Alignment Podcast
• Exponential View – Azeem Azhar
• The Artificial Intelligence Podcast – Lex Fridman

Movies

• I, Robot (2004)
• Iron Man (2008)
• Her (2013)
• Ex Machina (2014)
• Transcendence (2014)
• The Matrix Series

Authors: Olha Tarasova, Sofya Kolosova, Deema Aassy, Daniel Zateri