“AI is a tool. The choice about how it gets deployed is ours.” Oren Etzioni
Artificial Intelligence or AI. Heard of it? If you have not, you may need to check your pulse. AI is permeating our lives, businesses, and government at break-neck speed. I find it a bit intimidating. I’m not one of those naysayers who shuns the latest technology. I confess I am a bit offended thinking of a person who uses AI to avoid the discipline, rigor, and benefit from writing a paper or a poem where the objective is to learn and grow. However, I do see the value of AI and I have already witnessed its benefits in modern companies. While I’m on board with the advancement of AI, I am concerned about the damage it may do if not controlled appropriately by its creators – us humans.
The other day, I was speaking with an entrepreneur friend who has taken a fascination with AI and its potential. He shared with me the concept of a future company led by a single person yet completely run by AI. You read that right – a single leader surrounded by computers and robots manufacturing products, solving problems, developing new solutions, adjusting to market demands, and even communicating with customers. I’m smart enough to see the potential of such an organization but what does this mean for leaders and leadership? I know what today’s leaders need to possess in terms of character and presence and what they need to succeed. What then does an AI leader need to be, know and do? This is an interesting question. My thinking on it is undeveloped, yet I do have something to contribute.
