How Domo’s Chris Willis Sees the Future of Work: Steering AI with Human Judgment

A recent article by Matthew Garrepy, “Backoff on the AI Layoffs: Domo’s Chris Willis on the Future of Work in 2026,” challenges popular narratives that AI is eliminating jobs and highlights the deeper, more nuanced transformation underway—one led by human judgment and AI collaboration.

Chris Willis, Domo’s Chief Design Officer and futurist, explains that early waves of AI-driven layoffs were driven by overoptimistic expectations of automation. Many companies rushed to cut roles, only to realize that critical judgment, oversight, and decision-making skills cannot be replaced by AI models. As a result, organizations have quietly begun rehiring, this time for AI-literate architects, data stewards, and outcome-oriented practitioners who can orchestrate AI responsibly.

Willis emphasizes that future work will shift from task execution to “steering work”, where humans guide AI tools in real time, blending automation with authority and strategic intent. This evolving workplace demands new hybrid roles across conditioning, authority, automation, and compounding gains, underscoring that AI is strongest as a force multiplier when paired with human expertise.

The article underscores that companies succeeding in 2026 will be those that resist treating AI simply as a cost-cutting tool and instead build organizational skill trees that support sustainable AI-human collaboration—preserving the essential role of human judgment.

Read the full article to learn how Domo envisions a future where AI empowers human potential rather than replaces it.

‍
See How Domo Can Help You Navigate the Human-AI Future of Work
Discover how Domo’s AI-powered platform enables organizations to blend human judgment with machine intelligence, orchestrating smarter workflows for growth and resilience. Ready to lead the next wave of work?