Be More Human: Authentic Leadership in an AI World
"The danger is not artificial intelligence becoming more human. The danger is human intelligence becoming more artificial."
What it was about
As AI becomes embedded in the workplace, the real danger isn't artificial intelligence becoming more human. It's human intelligence becoming more artificial. HR and leaders must use AI for mundane tasks while deliberately developing the human qualities AI cannot replicate: the '5 A's' of awareness, acceptance, authenticity, abundance, and appreciation.
By the numbers
Key notes
- Use AI to offload mundane, data-heavy tasks, then reinvest the time saved into building human qualities like presence, empathy, and judgment.
- Use AI as a 'sparring partner' by asking it questions like 'what are the unintended consequences of this decision?' to stress-test your thinking rather than letting it decide for you.
- Audit your own writing for AI tells (em dashes, the word 'foster,' 'leverage collective insights,' generic phrases) and consciously keep your authentic voice and even your typos rather than trading them for polish.
Take this back Monday
Audit your last team email for AI tells ('foster,' 'leverage') and rewrite recognition notes personally, keeping typos over polish.
The risk isn't AI becoming human, it's our people becoming artificial, so we're pairing AI efficiency with deliberately human recognition and communication.
Watch out for
- Letting AI-drafted communication replace personal voice, resulting in generic, corporate-sounding messages employees immediately recognize as AI ('sterile perfection').
- Gradually ceding more communication and judgment to AI for speed without noticing the cumulative loss of personality and human connection.
- Treating appreciation and recognition as a program rather than an embedded, personalized part of culture.
Alison Jones is a TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and founder of GLOW who has advised presidential appointees and is a passionate elephant and rhino conservation advocate.
