The Necessity for Leaders to Prioritize Humanity Over Convenience in the Age of AI

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace has led to an important question for leaders: how much should you depend on AI, and can you do so without losing the human touch?

As technology becomes increasingly integrated into daily decision-making, leaders must consider how to leverage AI while maintaining essential human qualities such as judgment, creativity, and ethical values.

Balancing AI and Human Agency

Faisal Hoque, an author and entrepreneur, discusses this in his book, Transcend: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI. He emphasizes that finding the right mix between technology and human input is a significant challenge for today’s leaders. Hoque uses the analogy of a self-driving car to illustrate this concept, asking, “Do you want to be a passive passenger or steer the car yourself?”

Leaders need to identify the fine line between automation and individual judgment. Hoque warns that AI is like no previous technology because it actively participates in decision-making. The concern is that reliance on AI might turn individuals into passive participants in their own lives.

“There’s a gut element to making decisions,” he explained, highlighting that if leaders offload all their decision-making to AI, they miss out on critical instincts that inform their judgment.

Understanding AI’s Bias

It’s easy to view AI as an unbiased assistant, but this perspective is misleading. Hoque points out that AI reflects the biases present in the data it learns from. For instance, an AI system trained on biased hiring practices could continue discrimination against specific groups without being noticed.

Research from organizations like Brookings shows that biased algorithms can create unfair outcomes on a large scale. Therefore, leaders must critically evaluate AI outputs. They should ask themselves if the data is varied, current, and free from bias.

This active scrutiny helps safeguard human intuition and agency, especially when making significant choices related to hiring, promotions, and customer service.

The Human Impact of Over-reliance

Another concern about heavy reliance on AI is its potential to decrease human connections and creativity within teams. Hoque likens convenience to a drug, warning against the habit of automating every task.

While AI can handle repetitive jobs, excessive delegation can lead to a decline in critical thinking skills. Research indicates that workers who rely heavily on AI may feel increasingly isolated, even as they become more efficient. This paradox could lead to disengagement, with employees no longer collaborating or innovating effectively.

Hoque advises leaders to be deliberate in their AI use. Just because technology can perform a function doesn’t mean it should. For example, if a manager automates performance reviews with AI, they might save time but risk losing trust from their team when this becomes evident.

Leading with Purpose and Care

So how should leaders manage the introduction of AI? In his book, Hoque outlines an “OPEN” framework, which includes outlining the situation, partnering with technology and people, experimenting to learn, and navigating with oversight. He also introduces the “CARE” framework, which involves considering worst-case scenarios, assessing uncertainties, regulating with guidelines, and having exit strategies in place.

This approach encourages leaders to harness AI’s potential while also preserving essential human values. They should always be mindful of their purpose and ethics when integrating AI into their organizations. Hoque reminds us that just because something is technologically feasible doesn’t mean it should be done.

A Partnership Rather Than a Replacement

Hoque urges leaders to view AI as a partner instead of a substitute. Positioning AI as a supportive tool that complements rather than replaces human abilities sends a strong message to employees. They want leaders who champion their interests, not those who use technology to reduce costs or personnel.

To successfully navigate the AI landscape, leaders must intentionally guide the use of these technologies with empathy and a strong commitment to human values. When leaders adopt this mindset, they can ensure that AI enhances human instincts rather than diminishes them.

For further insights, watch the complete interview with Faisal Hoque and Dan Pontefract on the Leadership NOW program, or listen to it through your preferred podcast platform.