FT: Business leaders are using more AI but still need human checks

In short: Business leaders are getting more comfortable using AI at work, but they cannot rely on it without strong human oversight.

What's going on

A new Financial Times opinion column says companies are rolling out AI quickly, but the future is hard to predict. Anna Thomas from the UK’s Institute for the Future of Work described the current moment as “a bit of a wild west,” meaning there are few clear rules and lots of trial and error.

Maureen Costello, who leads Google Cloud in several regions, says many leaders have moved past small tests and now want to use AI across the whole business. She says leaders are learning the tools themselves and becoming “fluent” in AI. The harder questions, she argues, are whether the company has the skills and capacity for AI, and what specific business problem it is trying to solve.

At advertising technology company The Trade Desk, executive Philip Duffield says trust is a core issue. He warns that AI is only as good as the data it is fed (like cooking with ingredients that might be out of date). He also points to “hallucinations,” which is when an AI system confidently makes something up, such as lawyers citing fake court cases.

The column also highlights a framework from Wharton professor Ethan Mollick: “leadership, the lab, and the crowd.” Leaders set direction, a dedicated group tests and studies changes, and everyday workers try tools and share what works.

What to watch

More firms are likely to reorganize teams and processes around AI, not just buy software. Leaders will also face pressure to be transparent with staff, set clear rules for checking AI output, and explain where the company is heading so employees feel included, not replaced.

Source: Financial Times