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14. The Now, New, and Next of Digital Leadership (AI Substitution)

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Part 14 of 17 of a research-based series exploring AI’s impact on leadership This post summarises the article The Now, New, and Next of Digital Leadership: How Artificial Intelligence (AI) Will Take Over and Change Leadership as We Know It by Van Quaquebeke and Gerpott (2023)

Is human leadership romanticized? Algorithms are not just tools; they are poised to replace core human leadership functions, potentially performing them better. This commentary acts as a “wake-up call”, challenging the consensus that motivational and relational leadership is impervious to AI substitution. The framework details AI’s progression from a tool (NOW) to an advisor (NEW) to eventually full replacement (NEXT). The core finding suggests sophisticated algorithms can effectively embody core leadership characteristics, potentially catering better to employees’ psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness by offering immediate, data-driven, and unbiased feedback. For instance, AI can facilitate social connections by identifying optimal team pairings.

This argument for imminent substitution demands a radical reassessment of leadership scholarship, making critical thinking the key to retaining human control and relevance. Leaders must deploy critical thought to model ethical trade-offs. This means moving beyond simplistic performance outcomes to anticipate complex scenarios, such as when AI might encourage abusive leadership behaviors for the sake of short-term benefits, even if it leads to human suffering. Furthermore, leadership scholars must critically engage with the technical fundamentals of AI to avoid becoming overdependent on technology, risking underdeveloped reasoning capabilities.

The authors, Niels Van Quaquebeke and Fabiola H. Gerpott, suggest that the field risks sleepwalking into an unexamined reality and failing to adjust in time if it does not address the topic of AI substitution candidly. If AI can deliver better motivational outcomes, what is the fundamental moral duty of a human leader who chooses to reject algorithmic advice? Let’s debate.

Reference: Van Quaquebeke, N., & Gerpott, F. H. (2023). The Now, New, and Next of Digital Leadership: How Artificial Intelligence (AI) Will Take Over and Change Leadership as We Know It. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 30(3), 265–275. https://doi.org/10.1177/15480518231181731