Mary Shea, PhD

We are entering a new phase of AI where individual speed is no longer enough. The real advantage comes from how teams share context, connect information, and build on each other’s work. In this piece, I explore why productivity now depends on the networks around us and how the next generation of AI will act as a true networked teammate that understands people, relationships, and the flow of work.

In an AI-first world, your network, not your résumé, is your real advantage. As hybrid work and AI reshape how we connect, “Always Be Networking” (ABN) is the new rule. At Meerkat, we help professionals turn static contact lists into living relationship graphs powered by AI intelligence, blending human connection with smart insights to build trust, visibility, and opportunity in the future of work.

ChatGPT said: 2025 belongs to the vibe. Microsoft’s “vibe working” turned a developer phrase into a global movement. In this Ways We Work edition, Mary Shea unpacks how vibe working—co-creating with AI through intent and flow—reflects a deeper shift in how we work. At Meerkat, we go further: from prompting to partnering. With memory, context, and relationships built in, Meerkat turns vibe into value. #FutureOfWork #AgenticAI