People Aren’t Data: How to be an AI Savvy Leader with David De Cremer

Work's Not Working... Let's Fix It!

In this episode of Work’s Not Working Siân Harrington speaks with AI and leadership expert David De Cremer about the challenges business leaders face when integrating AI into the workplace. They explore how the rush to adopt AI can often miss the mark by focusing too much on technological solutions and not enough on the human elements that make successful AI integration possible.

David argues that leaders are often overwhelmed by AI’s potential and mistakenly delegate the responsibility to tech experts, which results in a lack of alignment between AI’s use and the organisation’s business goals. He highlights the need for an "AI-enabling" culture, where AI serves human intelligence rather than replacing it, and stresses that ethical and human-centred approaches are essential for long-term success.

Throughout the conversation David shares practical strategies for fostering a balanced approach to AI adoption, ensuring that it augments human creativity and decision-making. He also touches on how leaders can upskill their teams, manage the risks of over-reliance on AI and avoid the pitfalls of treating people as mere data points.

Key Takeaways

• AI as an enabler, not a replacement: David emphasizes that AI should be seen as a tool to support human decision-making rather than something that diminishes human involvement. Leaders must create AI-enabling cultures that put people first.
• Leadership’s role in AI adoption: Leaders often feel disconnected from AI implementation, delegating it to tech teams. David highlights the importance of leaders being AI-savvy, actively participating in the process and aligning AI use with business goals.
• Human-centred leadership: The conversation underscores that AI adoption should not reduce employees to data points. Ethical upskilling and clear communication about AI’s role are critical to maintaining trust and employee engagement.
• Balancing innovation with responsibility: David warns of the dangers of rushing into AI adoption due to competitive pressures. Thoughtful implementation that considers both the opportunities and challenges of AI is key to realising its benefits.
• Soft skills in the AI era: As AI takes on more technical tasks, soft skills like empathy, creativity and collaboration become even more important. Leaders must foster these skills in themselves and their teams to thrive in an AI-driven future.

About David De Cremer
Professor David De Cremer is a world-renowned expert in leadership and organisational transformation in the AI era and author of

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Chapters

1. Introduction to AI Leadership Challenges (00:00:00)

2. Episode Overview: Why AI-Savvy Leadership is Essential (00:01:12)

3. The Pressures of AI in the Workplace (00:04:27)

4. The Dangers of Over-relying on AI in Decision-Making (00:06:45)

5. Lessons from Previous Technology Missteps (00:09:21)

6. What it Means to be an AI-Savvy Leader (00:14:30)

7. Challenges in Upskilling for AI-Savviness (00:20:01)

8. Organisations Getting AI Right (and Wrong) (00:22:23)

9. The Fear of AI and Job Replacement (00:26:08)

10. Creativity and the Risk of Mediocrity with AI (00:30:30)

11. Balancing AI Adoption with Human-Centred Implementation (00:31:40)

12. Using AI as a Business Leader (00:36:04)

13. The Role of HR in AI Adoption (00:39:12)

14. Key Steps to Becoming AI-Savvy (00:43:23)

15. Closing Thoughts: Risks of AI Bans (00:45:20)