Presence Economy

If AI is supposed to enable a more autonomous digital workplace, why are so many organisations becoming more focused on physical presence instead of measurable outcomes?

The narrative around AI agents is that they'll automate repetitive work. Increase productivity. Enable asynchronous collaboration. In theory, that should make remote work more viable, not less.

But the operational reality seems to be moving in the opposite direction. More RTO mandates. More badge tracking. More monitoring. More focus on presence.

A desire path is rarely random. It's usually a signal.

The future of work is being marketed as autonomous and outcome driven. But many workplaces still fundamentally operate on visibility, proximity, and managerial reassurance.

Desire paths don't ignore systems. They respond to them.