5. How Will AI Evolve Organizational Leadership?
Part 5 of 17 of a research-based series exploring AI’s impact on leadership This post summarises the article How Will Artificial Intelligence (AI) Evolve Organizational Leadership? Understanding the Perspectives of Technopreneurs by Zaidi (2025)
Will the next generation of leadership be defined by human intellect, or by the sophistication of the algorithms they manage? Expert interviews confirm that AI mandates fundamental, real-time shifts in leadership philosophies, transforming leaders into “tech-savvy leaders” committed to continuous learning. The primary finding is that AI enables the automation of routine tasks (like organizing and scheduling), allowing human leaders to pivot toward higher-level responsibilities, such as creative thinking, employee development, and bridging the human-technology gap. Crucially, the study reinforces the irreplaceable value of human judgment, noting that AI lacks intuition, a moral compass, and a ‘soul’, meaning it cannot settle complex business problems alone.
This transformation intensely reinforces the need for advanced human critical thinking in both decision-making and ethical oversight. Leaders must use critical thought to effectively become the guardians of powerful machines. This requires them to critically understand the truth of the algorithms they use, including their limitations and capabilities, especially within the company’s decision chain. The key critical function is determining “where people can be taken out of the loop, and where they can be involved,” ensuring automation doesn’t lead to an organizational philosophy that neglects human well-being.
The author, Syed Yasir Abbas Zaidi, suggests that AI coaching is further enhancing tomorrow’s AI congruent business leaders, fundamentally altering how leaders make decisions and transforming future team dynamics. How do we standardize the measure of a leader’s “tech savviness” to ensure they maintain critical, ethical oversight over the AI systems they deploy? Let’s discuss.
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Reference: Zaidi, S. Y. A., Aslam, M. F., Mahmood, F., Ahmad, B., & Bint Raza, S. (2025). How will artificial intelligence (AI) evolve organizational leadership? Understanding the perspectives of technopreneurs. Global Business and Organizational Excellence, 44(1), 66–83. https://doi.org/10.1002/joe.22275
Justin O'Brien 