The landscape of work is evolving rapidly, driven by innovations in remote work and artificial intelligence. At the forefront of this transformation is Harvard Professor Prithwiraj (Raj) Choudhury, a luminary in the study of the future of work. His research delves deep into Work-from-Anywhere (WFA) models, hybrid work dynamics, and the revolutionary concept of ‘Codified Selves’—AI bots that replicate individual communication styles. In this exclusive interview, Raj shares his groundbreaking insights and offers a glimpse into his much-anticipated session at Running Remote 2025.
Who is Prithwiraj Choudhury?
Prithwiraj Choudhury, the Lumry Family Associate Professor at Harvard Business School, is a renowned thought leader in remote and hybrid work. His academic journey includes a Doctorate from Harvard Business School, an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, and a Computer Science degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. Before academia, he gained corporate experience at McKinsey & Company, Microsoft, and IBM. Raj’s work has been featured in leading journals and media outlets, and he’s been recognized as a Forbes Future of Work-50 awardee.
Raj’s research has been cited by BBC, Bloomberg Businessweek, CNBC, NPR All Things Considered, New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Economist, Harvard Business Review, The Independent, The World Economic Forum, Forbes, Yahoo! Finance, Freakonomics, WIRED, Axios, Nikkei Asian Review, Inc., India Today Television, NDTV among several other outlets. He has advised organizations as diverse as Google, Atlassian, ITC, Young Presidents Organization, Deloitte, Cactus, the Council on Foreign Relations, the British Parliament and the United Nations, on the Future of Work.
Raj’s research explores the productivity benefits of remote work models, notably WFA, which showed a 4.4% output increase in his study of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He also investigates hybrid models, finding that a balanced in-office presence optimizes outcomes. His expertise in AI has led to groundbreaking studies on how algorithm-augmented work enhances productivity.
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The Concept of Codified Selves
During his upcoming session at Running Remote 2025, Raj will delve into the concept of ‘Codified Selves,’ digital AI avatars trained to replicate individual communication styles. “Codified Selves can complement human workers by assisting in asynchronous communication and meetings, potentially ushering in a second wave of Work-from-Anywhere,” Raj explains. Attendees will also learn about the ‘Wade Bot’ study, which involved training an AI bot to mimic Wade Foster, CEO of Zapier.
These advancements signify a transformative shift in how remote teams collaborate, enabling scalable human capital and efficient communication across distributed teams.
Codified Selves: How Agentic AI will Usher a New Wave of Work-from-anywhere
Insights on how agentic AI, in the form of ‘codified selves’ will usher a new wave of Work-from-anywhere. Codified selves are AI Bots trained to both replicate the content and style of individual communication. Codified Selves may help individuals communicate asynchronously, participate in meetings, scaling their human capital in unprecedented ways. Raj will share both a conceptual framework around codified selves and will share experimental evidence on this topic. Notably he will share insights from his ‘Wade Bot’ study that is receiving widespread attention globally, where a Bot was trained to mimic Wade Foster, CEO of Zapier. Raj will also launch his new book ‘The World is Your Office’ at the end of this talk. The book can be pre-ordered on Amazon.
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An Interview with Prithwiraj Choudhury
Your research has highlighted the productivity benefits of ‘Work from Anywhere’ models. What challenges do organizations face when implementing WFA, and how can they address them?
While work from anywhere entails several benefits, including access to diverse global talent, WFA teams also need to implement management practices to mitigate three main challenges: communication, knowledge sharing and isolation. All of these challenges can be mitigated through management practices, and the choice of what practices to focus on depends on the type of hybrid model the team implements. In my forthcoming book, ‘The World is Your Office’, I document the management practices needed for successful WFA based on the hybrid model that the team implements.
In your study on hybrid work, employees with intermediate levels of remote work reported better outcomes. How should companies determine the optimal balance between remote and in-office work for their teams?
Our study of HR workers showed that between 25 and 40% of in-person days were optimal for a range of outcomes. Companies can replicate our study by running their own experiments. Teams could be given the flexibility to conduct A/B tests for different hybrid models, and/or teams could randomize the pattern of in-person days. The best practices adopted by teams could be shared bottom-up with other teams.
Could you elaborate on the concept of ‘Codified Selves’ and how AI bots replicating individual communication styles might transform remote work dynamics?
Codified selves are digital representations of workers based on information that has been codified in the company’s documents, such as emails, Slack messages, and other work products. The advent and adoption of codified selves opens up the possibility of such digital avatars complementing human workers in asynchronous communication and in meetings. This could lead to a second wave of work from anywhere.
The ‘Wade Bot’ study is intriguing. What were the key findings, and how do you envision AI bots like this influencing leadership communication in the future?
We ran a study where we replicated a real human CEO with a bot. I will present these findings at Running Remote, so I should not give them away. Attend my session to learn more!
With the upcoming release of your book, ‘The World is Your Office,’ what key insights do you hope readers will take away regarding the future of remote and distributed work?
I hope this book, which summarizes over a decade of my research, convinces managers and senior leadership that WFA is a talent strategy. Companies that adopt WFA will continue to attract the best talent, and companies that do not adopt WFA will fall behind in the talent game. The book also provides a detailed discussion on management practices and best practices to mitigate the three challenges of WFA: communication across timezones, knowledge sharing and isolation. The book also provides a roadmap for how WFA can be scaled up in baby steps.
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What can people expect from your session at Running Remote this April in Austin?
Attendees can look forward to an insightful dive into the revolutionary concept of ‘Codified Selves.’ I will present cutting-edge findings from my research, including the much-anticipated ‘Wade Bot’ study.
In addition to discussing the conceptual framework behind Codified Selves, I’ll share experimental evidence and practical applications for organizations and individuals seeking to harness the power of AI to scale human capital.
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Key Takeaways from the Interview
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Challenges of Work-from-Anywhere: Raj highlights communication, knowledge sharing, and isolation as key challenges in WFA. His upcoming book, The World is Your Office, provides actionable management practices to address these issues and scale WFA strategies.
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Optimizing Hybrid Work: Raj’s research indicates that 25-40% in-office days yield optimal results. He recommends organizations conduct experiments to identify the best hybrid model for their teams.
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AI in Remote Work: The introduction of Codified Selves promises to revolutionize asynchronous collaboration. These AI bots, built from codified workplace data, can support employees by replicating their communication styles, enhancing productivity and connectivity.
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The ‘Wade Bot’ Study: While Raj refrains from revealing full details before his session, he hints at the significant potential of AI-driven communication tools for leadership and team dynamics.
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Future of Remote Work: The World is Your Office emphasizes WFA as a critical talent strategy, predicting that companies adopting WFA will dominate the talent market. The book provides a roadmap for implementing WFA in manageable steps.
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Office at the Offsite – Future of All-Remote Organizations
Raj’s insights from Running Remote 2024
At Running Remote 2024, Raj explored how hybrid work is evolving beyond the traditional model of spending two days in a downtown office. He shared insights from his research, which suggests that WFA teams are innovating on both where and when to meet. According to Raj, the office is no longer the sole location for in-person collaboration. Teams are embracing a multiplicity of meeting spaces, including offsites, suburban locations, and trade conferences.
Raj highlighted the flexibility in meeting frequency, with many teams gathering in person for a few days monthly or quarterly. These brief periods of in-person collaboration significantly boost innovation, particularly when team members from different time zones or cultures meet. Additionally, the timing of these gatherings is crucial, such as aligning in-person interactions with key decision-making moments like budget allocation meetings.
“Moving from a rigid version of hybrid to more flexible forms will enable companies to hire-from-anywhere, individuals to work-from-anywhere, and all-remote firms to thrive,” Raj concluded. These insights underscore the importance of adaptable hybrid strategies in the future of work.
Catch Raj’s entire insightful session, “Office at the Offsite – Future of All-Remote Organizations,” where he explores innovative approaches to hybrid work and distributed team collaboration. Watch Raj’s Running Remote 2024 session now.
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Why You Should Attend Running Remote 2025
Running Remote 2025, taking place on April 29-30 in Austin, Texas, is the premier conference for leaders navigating the challenges of remote and hybrid work. This year’s event features over 50 speakers from leading companies, including Payoneer, Zoom, Zillow, and Stanford, alongside experts like Raj Choudhury.
Key benefits of attending include:
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Actionable Insights: Gain practical strategies from global thought leaders in remote work.
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Networking Opportunities: Connect with 500+ attendees, including C-level executives, founders, and HR leaders.
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Cutting-Edge Research: Discover the latest trends in AI, distributed team management, and hybrid workplace strategies.
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Interactive Sessions: Participate in deep dives and keynotes across two dynamic stages.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to future-proof your team at Running Remote 2025! Join us in Austin on April 29-30, 2025, and be part of this transformative journey. Secure your Spot
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Register Now for Running Remote 2025
