Artificial Intelligence (AI)
How L&D can build the agility that AI adoption demands
As organisations race to adopt AI, Tristan Boutros argues that technology alone is not enough. Real progress depends on agile learning cultures, adaptive talent and psychological safety. For L&D leaders, the task is to build human capability that helps organisations experiment, learn quickly and turn AI into long lasting value. Artificial intelligence is advancing faster than most organisations can comfortably keep up with. New tools promise efficiency and scale, but many AI initiatives stall, underdeliver or even quietly disappear. For…
AI is exposing L&D’s value problem
Generative AI is accelerating content creation, but Dr Ravinder Tulsiani argues that speed and volume are not the same as value. For L&D, the real opportunity is to move beyond mere output and focus on capability, judgement and measurable performance change, especially where organisations need stronger human decision-making most. It’s a moment many of us will recognise: A well-meaning stakeholder asks for a new learning module. The problem is described vaguely, inconsistent performance, missed decisions, something “not landing”. The solution,…
AI adoption has a people problem, not a tech problem
Jennie Marshall argues that while organisations are investing heavily in AI, too few are turning pilots into meaningful impact. The real barrier is not technology but leadership, culture and capability. To close the gap, leaders must build confidence, embed AI into workflows and measure adoption, not just expenditure at scale. A while back I was heading north to visit a client, coffee in hand, when I put on the Science & Tech Daily podcast. Piers Linney was talking about AI,…
The real challenge of AI adoption: JPMorgan’s culture and confidence during change
JPMorgan’s AI rollout shows that successful adoption depends less on the technology itself and more on trust, transparency and ownership. Nick Petschek argues that L&D leaders must treat AI implementation as a cultural change effort, helping people feel safe to experiment, shaping use through feedback and building confidence over time. The decision by American multinational banking institution JPMorgan to give more than 300,000 employees the option to use advanced AI tools for performance reviews is a bold transition. The bank…
The anxiety of automation: Redefining human decision rights in an AI world
Access to AI tools does not guarantee adoption from your people. If employees don’t know where their accountability ends and the algorithm’s begins, they can freeze. Dr. Ravinder Tulsiani argues that the key to AI culture isn’t just upskilling and blanket training, it’s establishing the psychological safety of clear decision rights. Walk into any organisation that has recently rolled out a generative AI pilot, and you will likely find two distinct groups of people. The first group is enthusiastically experimenting,…
Cultural intelligence at scale: Where AI supports global leadership
AI can help leaders build cultural intelligence at scale, but it works best alongside human judgement and empathy. Bryony Harrower explores how digital tools, simulations and tailored coaching can prepare global teams, reduce bias and strengthen communication across borders, turning cultural awareness into a practical leadership advantage in today’s workplace. Global business rarely operates within a single border. In today’s world, teams span time zones and cross cultures. That diversity brings a wider perspective and stronger problem-solving. The data supports this,…
Beyond Words – book review
Most leadership challenges are relational, not transactional and that should reshape L&D priorities. In his review, Andy Evans explores Beyond Words and its 8 Principles of Relational Capacity, following the path from survival to safety to success, and what this lens reveals about burnout, culture initiatives, and AI in organisations. Book: Beyond Words: How to Lead People from Survival to SuccessAuthor: Kerry-Lyn Stanton-Downes There’s a particular type of leadership book that arrives with a bold premise, delivers three hundred pages…
Can AI really resolve workplace conflict?
As AI becomes a coach, scriptwriter and even would-be mediator at work, Phil Floyd explores what this means for people’ trust, authenticity and conflict. He argues that while technology can support difficult conversations, healthy workplace relationships still depend on human skills such as listening, empathy, curiosity and honest face-to-face dialogue. Wouldn’t it be better if work colleagues always said the right thing to each other? When we want to criticise a colleague for their performance, for example, some well-chosen words…
Breaking the L&D loop: Why more content isn’t the answer
Chris Eigeland argues that L&D teams must stop measuring success by the size of their content libraries and start curating smarter, skills-led pathways. With AI, governance and better evaluation, organisations can reduce waste, improve engagement and build learning cultures focused on application, performance and meaningful career growth for everyone involved. Learning and development leaders have access to unprecedented volumes of training content, but the disconnect lies in managing, impact and evaluation. While 80% of L&D leaders claim satisfaction with their…
TJ interviews: Dr Alex Zarifis on how AI is forcing leaders to rethink how people learn, work and create value
Dr Alex Zarifis says UK firms will only unlock AI value when leaders redesign processes and business models, not just add tools. He urges transparent communication to build trust without blind faith, and argues agentic AI will push leaders towards clearer, transactional direction when managing mixed human and machine teams. UK businesses are starting to see AI’s productivity potential, but the value story is still uneven. The UK government’s 2026 AI Adoption Research found that 56% of businesses using AI…
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