AI can write, analyze, create, research and solve problems faster than ever. So as these tools become more capable, what should we actually be doing ourselves?

In this first episode of The Human Side of Change, Craig Friedman joins me for a refreshing conversation about how we can use AI wisely while continuing to develop the human capabilities that matter: judgement, curiosity, critical thinking and experience.

Craig explores how AI might actually help us think better, why judgement comes from more than information, and what happens when technology starts taking over some of the formative experiences through which we traditionally developed expertise.

We also talk about how AI is changing the way we work, why younger professionals may have less to unlearn, and the one quality Craig hopes will define the next generation of leaders.

Key questions we explored

Can AI improve our thinking?

Craig believes it can, when we use it to challenge our thinking, identify gaps and ask better questions rather than simply accepting its answers.

How do we develop good judgement?

Through a combination of disciplined critical thinking and lived experience. Experience gives us a deeper library of patterns and situations to draw from.

Could AI make it harder for younger professionals to develop expertise?

It could, if AI removes too many of the formative experiences where people practise, make mistakes and learn. But younger professionals may also have an advantage because they have less to unlearn.

What should define future leaders?

Craig's answer is simple: integrity. He also highlights the importance of systems thinking, considering the wider consequences of the technologies and decisions we make.

The Human Side of Change is a four-part Mind Blend mini-series exploring how we navigate uncertainty, identity, reinvention and the next chapter of our lives.

About Craig Friedman

Craig Friedman is a talent and skills transformation leader at St. Charles Consulting Group and author of Enterprise Skills Unlocked: A Blueprint for Building Skills-Based Talent Management. With more than two decades of experience in organizational design and workforce strategy, Craig has advised major organizations navigating AI adoption in real time. His work sits at the intersection of where AI is taking work and what that means for the humans doing it, not just what jobs are disappearing, but what capabilities, judgment, and identity are quietly being hollowed out along the way.

You can connect with Craig on  St. Charles Consulting Group, LinkedIn and X. His book, Enterprise Skills Unlocked: A Blueprint for Building Skills-Based Talent Management is available on St. Charles Consulting Group's website.

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