How leadership is being redefined in the age of AI

Sponsored by Stellenbosch Business Institute

That’s the message the theoretical neuroscientist, AI pioneer, and entrepreneur Dr Vivienne Ming delivered to South African industry leaders at the Stellenbosch Business Institute’s C Leaders Summit in Bryanston.

Speaking ahead of her keynote, Dr Ming argued that the role of leadership has fundamentally shifted. “So many leaders have been taught they need to make all the decisions. Now there’s this thing in the world, AI. All the answers to the world’s questions are for free in your pocket. What remains are the things we don’t know.”

For her, future leaders won’t be judged by how fast they decide, but by how effectively they support others in navigating uncertainty. “We’re not raising kids in our school systems to be explorers,” she said. “We need to change that leadership vision; your role is to help people explore, not to issue orders.”

Dr Ming cautioned against viewing AI merely as a threat to jobs. “If you’re scared of AI because you think it’s going to take jobs, you’re thinking about this wrong,” she explained. “I’m not automating myself, I’m using it like a tool. AI knows everything, but it understands nothing. Your job as a leader is understanding.”

Her challenge to South African leaders is to view AI as a way to enhance human potential, not to substitute it. “Don’t use AI to make life easier,” she urged. “Use it to make life harder in the ways that make you better. You want better AI? Build better people.”

And that, she believes, is the key to unlocking South Africa’s immense potential. “One of the things that excites me about South Africa is all of its challenges,” said Dr Ming. “Think of every kid growing up in a township, they have the cure for diabetes in their potential. The opportunity is to help discover people.”

Catch the full discussion below...