As AI continues to transform the workplace, its potential goes far beyond efficiency. AI offers leaders a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine how organizations operate, innovate, and grow. At the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos, Adam Grant (organizational psychologist and Chair of the BetterUp Center for Purpose & Performance), Lila Ibrahim (COO, Google DeepMind), and Alexi Robichaux (CEO and Co-founder, BetterUp) explored how leaders can harness AI’s power while amplifying humanity’s unique strengths.
The evolving role of leadership in an AI world
Adam Grant opened with a sharp critique of AI discussions at Davos, noting they often focus on technology at the expense of human implications. “Leadership itself is being disrupted,” he said. In an AI-driven world, leaders must evolve from subject-matter experts to dot connectors—facilitating collaboration, purpose, and agility across teams.
Alexi Robichaux pushed this further, advocating for a bold redesign and inversion of organizational structures. “We need to design processes first, integrate AI second, and then determine where humans are most valuable,” he said. Machines can handle repetitive tasks, but the most challenging work—emotional labor—remains distinctly human.
Humanizing AI for sustainable impact
For AI to truly benefit people, Lila Ibrahim argued, leaders must embed values into every stage of AI development. “If we want AI to benefit humans, we have to bring humanity into everything we do,” she emphasized. “This means building AI with communities, not just for them, and operationalizing responsibility to ensure people remain central to decision-making.”
A senior executive in attendance on behalf of a global consumer brand highlighted this point through a creative campaign that used AI to repurpose archival content for advertising. By allowing consumers to participate in shaping the brand’s visual messaging, the company invited unprecedented engagement and excitement. However, the experiment also raised questions about the potential loss of human creativity in the process, illustrating the delicate balance leaders must strike between innovation and cultural integrity.
Scaling innovation and emotional intelligence
According to a senior executive in attendance from a major financial institution, multimillion dollar technology budget has enabled the development of hundreds of active AI use cases, with a focus on eliminating "no-joy work" and empowering employees to tackle more meaningful challenges. Lila responded that “The magic happens when you bring people together to spark innovation.” Alexi agreed and added that there is a fundamental shift in how organizations will integrate AI into workflows and job design. Instead of the current approach—where human roles are defined first, and AI is introduced to augment or streamline tasks—companies will increasingly start with AI capabilities and then determine where human expertise is most valuable. AI can streamline operations, but it’s the human connections and robust interdisciplinary collaboration that drive breakthroughs.
In another real-world example, Adam highlighted the power of rehumanizing connection through a social experiment that brought people with opposing viewpoints together. In a beer commercial, people collaborated on a puzzle before deciding whether to engage in conversation over a drink. The outcome was striking—an overwhelming majority chose to connect, underscoring how intentional interactions can bridge divides. Adam shared that even watching the campaign’s video measurably reduced divisiveness, proving how AI and creativity can foster empathy and unity.
What AI can’t do
Despite its potential, AI has clear limits. It cannot replicate live experiences, navigate crises, or foster deep emotional connections. As Lila put it, “Computers aren’t magic. Teachers are.” In moments of complexity—whether in humanitarian disasters or leadership challenges—humans remain irreplaceable. For now, at least, AI lacks the contextual understanding and emotional nuance required to navigate that kind of complexity.
Key takeaways
- Leadership redefined: Leaders must shift from being subject-matter experts to collaborative facilitators who connect people and ideas.
- Ethical AI integration: Organizations that prioritize humanity and interdisciplinary collaboration in AI development will lead the way.
- Balancing efficiency and humanity: AI can handle repetitive tasks, but human creativity and emotional intelligence remain irreplaceable.
- The importance of empathy: Emotional labor and meaningful conversations are critical leadership skills in the age of AI.
- Uniquely human strengths: Live experiences, deep relationships, and crisis management are areas where humans will always excel.
As AI reshapes the workplace, the question is no longer what AI can do—it’s how leaders can leverage it responsibly while amplifying human ingenuity. Those who strike this balance will set their organizations apart, capturing maximum value from the technology while driving innovation and transformation in the years to come.
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