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

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

Interested in insights about people leadership, HR and the future of work?
Seize and shape the future of work with The People Space, a leading digital HR magazine for forward-thinking leaders. We empower you to put people at the heart of work, navigating the evolving intersection of technology, business and human insight. Join us in building a future where people and machines collaborate for a more human-centric workplace

• Sign up for our free fortnightly newsletter on the future of work, human-centric organisations and people-first leadership
• Follow Siân on LinkedIn
• Are you an HR professional seeking to raise your profile or thinking of becoming an independent consultant? I can help!
• HR vendor or consultant? Check out how I can help you reach senior HR leaders
• Follow The People Space on Facebook