AI or Humans? Actually, Both…

At the Marketing AI Institute Conference last week, futurist Mike Walsh, CEO and author of The Algorithmic Leader, led a riveting discussion on how AI will reshape the future of work--not just through the technology itself but through the bold human decisions that drive progress.

As we enter the 5th Industrial Revolution, it’s becoming clearer that technology alone will not drive progress. The real transformation happens when humans go beyond adopting new tools and start reimagining how we think, work, and innovate.

Walsh argues AI will become as critical to 21st-century enterprises as electricity was to the last century. However, as a futurist, he also analyzes human trends and decisions—not just tech—to predict future shifts.

Walsh emphasized human decisions will be central to whether we realize the true potential of AI and urged leaders to both embrace the power of the technology and understand the importance of human complexity in shaping how, where, and when it is woven into the fabric of our everyday lives.

Interestingly, multiple sessions at MAICON emphasized (or even shared studies) that neither technology nor humans alone are the best solution for future growth.  It’s the combination of humans and technology that drives the best outcomes.

What future outcome are you driving? Are you thinking big enough?