What if everything we’ve been told about AI and the future of work is wrong? John Hagel says most leaders are asking the wrong questions: “How fast can we automate?” “How many jobs can we cut?” According to him, that’s a “going out of business strategy.” In this episode, we sit down with Silicon Valley veteran John Hagel, an advisor to firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Deloitte, to challenge the dominant narrative around AI, automation, and job elimination. He shares insights into how leaders are approaching AI today, often focusing on cost-cutting and workforce reduction, and what that means for the future of business and entrepreneurship. John explains that the real opportunity with AI isn’t efficiency, it’s learning. He talks about the shift from scalable efficiency to scalable learning and how organizations can use AI to augment human potential, unlock creativity and curiosity, and build cultures rooted in trust, collaboration, and continuous improvement. If you’re thinking about the future of work, this episode will challenge how you view AI, strategy, and innovation, and offer a different perspective on AI’s role in the modern economy. Like and follow for weekly episodes. In this episode: 00:00 Intro 01:30 Is “this time different” with technology? 02:29 The Big Shift: Why organizations must fundamentally change 03:18 Scalable efficiency vs scalable learning 05:33 The dangerous AI narrative: automation & job cuts 06:19 Why efficiency alone leads to diminishing returns 09:42 Trust: The missing foundation in most organizations 10:50 What happens when companies fail to adapt 12:21 Debunking AI myths and media narratives 12:46 Humans vs machines: who should do what? 13:14 Reskilling vs building human capabilities 15:03 How to convince leaders to rethink AI strategy 16:24 Fear vs opportunity in leadership 20:16 What real workplace learning looks like 21:18 The future leader: asking better questions 24:38 How to structure high-impact teams 26:06 The collapse of trust in institutions 26:58 Corporate narratives & Apple’s “Think Different” 30:06 Creativity vs technology in strategy 30:41 Zoom Out, Zoom In strategy explained 33:08 Microsoft example: seeing the future early 35:14 Why agility without direction fails 37:21 Understanding “the edge” and innovation 39:34 Why transformation efforts fail in large companies 41:22 Scaling the edge vs top-down change 42:52 The power of the “explorer mindset” 47:18 Why companies suppress passion 48:31 Only 14% of workers are truly passionate 50:18 Can passion be cultivated at scale? 52:29 Does IT still matter in the AI era? 55:07 AI, healthcare, and the future of longevity 57:13 From healthcare to “wellness ecosystems” 58:19 The rise of the trusted advisor 59:50 Can AI replace human advisors? 01:02:25 Advice for leaders 01:04:18 AI is a tool humans determine its impact 01:06:29 Why most digital transformations fail Connect with John: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhagel/ X: https://x.com/jhagel Our links: Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG