AI isn’t a fad. It’s a responsibility....
Having just completed the LinkedIn Learning course Human-Centered Leadership in the Age of AI, led by Laysha Ward, I felt compelled to write this.
Because the conversation around AI continues its accelerated path — but not always in the right direction.
Yesterday, I walked 12 miles for training, and whilst enjoying the views, I honed in on an epiphany and something that this course absolutely brought into clear focus.
A reminder that these are my personal views and do not reflect the opinion of any of my employers, past or present. In fact, this is a tribute to them for the exposure and the development opportunities to grow my views.
However, I feel I have hit on common sense that I am sure the majority would agree on.
A Personal Perspective
Over the past two years, I’ve moved from AI ambivalence to strong advocacy.
A former colleague mentioned AI to me at the start of 2024. I was the guy who laughed it off, considered it fanciful and even a fad..
Until I looked into it.. studied it.. understood the state of the art and potential..
I started off being 'that guy', making celebrity joke videos and desktop wallpaper using the technology, and through my deep dive, became fascinated.
Along the way, I’ve completed multiple qualifications in AI—including seven through The Alan Turing Institute—and have also written a paper exploring the responsible and effective application of AI for Welsh society.
That journey has shaped a clear and consistent belief:
AI is not a trend to follow. It is a responsibility to understand and apply correctly.
The Challenge I’m Seeing
If I’m candid, I’ve been disappointed by much of the current discourse.
We continue to see the same opposites:
Those rushing to adopt AI at pace—often investing heavily without a clearly defined purpose
Those holding back through uncertainty, scepticism, or fear
And increasingly, a growing number of opinion-led voices without the depth of experience or professional grounding to offer credible guidance. I would even go as far as to say journeymen who may have read a few articles and are now stating strategy with no tangible experience or education to validate their opinions.
In a space evolving this rapidly and recently, credibility and experience matter.
The Reality (As It So Often Is)
The truth sits somewhere in the middle.
AI is neither a silver bullet… nor something to be dismissed.
It is a powerful capability—but only when applied with:
Clear problem definition
A disciplined focus on “Why?” before “How?”
A well-defined remit and expected outputs
A structured and sensible roadmap for adoption
Without that, organisations either overspend… or stand still.
Neither represents progress.
Why This Matters Now
The scale and pace of change are undeniable.
A year ago, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNCTAD projected that AI investment is on track to reach $4.8 trillion by 2033.
This is not a passing phase.
The AI walk is moving — rapidly — and it is not changing course.
What This Course Reinforced
What stood out most from this programme was not the technology, but the quality of leadership required to navigate it.
Laysha Ward highlights this with clarity:
The need to read culture effectively
To balance EQ and IQ in decision-making
To communicate with intent using frameworks like MAVTT (Message, Audience, Vehicle, Timing, Tone)
And to embed the “Three Cs” — Courage, Co-creation, and Connection — into leadership practice
Above all, it reinforces a simple truth:
Good thinking must come before fast action.
My Advice
If you are navigating AI today:
Cross the self-development bridge now. Learn. Stay curious.
But remain disciplined in how you apply it.
And be selective about whose voice you follow.
Because the organisations that succeed will not be the loudest or the fastest—
They will be the ones who are measured, credible, and bold in equal measure.
By all means, subscribe and listen to the opinions, but as you would when trusting AI content, check in on their credentials. Do your due diligence.
I was once asked flat out by a client in a challenging conversation,
"What makes 'you' qualified?"
As I rattled off my background and experience as best as I could in the moment.. The underlying point resonated with me.. They were not wrong..
They were being asked to make critical decisions based on my feedback. Of course, validation and credibility matter.
Although.. I would have preferred to have handed them an iPad with my LinkedIn profile or provided a one-page executive summary, rather than having the no-win situation of having to explain 30 years of experience in a few sound bites.
Closing Thought
AI continues to move quickly. But responsibility must move with it.
And in my experience, the combination of:
Courage + Clarity + Credibility
…is what turns potential into real, lasting value.
I also highly recommend this course:
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