AI's Third Era: The Rise of Persistent AI Coworkers

Why it matters

Tara Seshan, OpenAI's product lead, unveils AI's third era—moving from conversational tools to persistent AI coworkers. She explains how AI evolves from ad-hoc interactions into long-term agents embedded in workflows, transforming collaboration and productivity. A forward-looking conversation essential for product leaders and decision-makers.

Key takeaways

• AI's third era marks a fundamental shift from reactive chats to persistent work roles.
• Persistent AI coworkers require memory, proactivity, and cross-task collaboration.
• Success depends on designing trust mechanisms balancing human oversight.
• Future organizations will reshape processes around hybrid human-AI teams.