Sunday Edition: What This Week Taught Me

This week has changed the way I think about artificial intelligence. Not because AI suddenly became more capable, but because I realised something.

Whether we like it or not, this technology isn’t coming. It’s already here, and as leaders, we have a choice. We can resist it. We can ignore it. Or we can learn to lead with it.

I don’t believe AI will replace great people

Over the past few weeks I’ve used AI more than ever before. It’s helped me research, challenge my thinking, write first drafts, improve processes and generate ideas I may never have considered on my own.

Has it always been right? Absolutely not. In fact, sometimes it’s confidently wrong. That’s probably the biggest lesson I’ve learnt.

Artificial intelligence is an extraordinary assistant. It is not an unquestionable authority.

Human judgement has become more valuable, not less

The more I use AI, the more convinced I become that human judgement is becoming one of the most valuable skills in business.

Anyone can generate an answer. The real skill is knowing whether it’s the right answer.

• Does it make sense?
• Is it accurate?
• Does it reflect reality?
• Does it sound like us?

Technology can accelerate our work, but it can’t replace responsibility. That still belongs to us.

We need to stop being afraid of it

Every major technological shift creates uncertainty.

• The internet did.
• Cloud computing did.
• Smartphones did.
• Artificial intelligence is no different.

Some people are worried about what it means for their careers. Others are pretending it doesn’t matter. I don’t think either response is helpful.

Instead, I think leaders have a responsibility to help people understand it.

• To remove the fear.
• To encourage curiosity.
• To create safe spaces where teams can experiment, ask questions and learn together.

Ignoring AI won’t protect our organisations. Understanding it might.

This changes how I lead

One decision I’ve made this week is that we’re no longer going to treat AI as something sitting on the edge of the business. It’s becoming part of how we work.

That doesn’t mean replacing people. It means helping people become even better at what they do.

• We’ll be investing more time in training.
• Encouraging experimentation.
• Sharing what works.
• Learning from what doesn’t.

Because I don’t believe the organisations of the future will be divided into those that use AI and those that don’t. I think they’ll be divided into those that learnt how to combine technology with human judgement… and those that didn’t.

The human advantage

Ironically, the more technology advances, the more I value the things it can’t replicate.

• Empathy.
• Trust.
• Relationships.
• Judgement.
• Integrity.
• Community.

These aren’t becoming less important. They’re becoming more important.

If AI helps us spend less time on repetitive tasks, perhaps it gives us more time to do the things that only people can do.

• Listen.
• Encourage.
• Support.
• Lead.

That feels like progress worth embracing.

Looking ahead

So that’s my biggest lesson from this week. Don’t fear technology. Don’t blindly trust it either.

• Learn it.
• Question it.
• Challenge it.
• Use it.
• And never stop applying your own experience, values and common sense.

Because I suspect the future won’t belong to the people who reject artificial intelligence. Nor will it belong to those who rely on it for everything. It will belong to those who learn how to combine the speed of technology with the wisdom of being human.

Every week teaches us something if we’re willing to pay attention. This week’s lesson for me was simple. The future isn’t human or artificial intelligence. It’s human with artificial intelligence.

And the leaders who embrace both, using technology to become more effective while protecting the authenticity, judgement and connection that only people can bring, will be the ones who shape whatever comes next.