What It Means to Be Human in an AI World -

At an escalating rate, and amid uncertain outcomes, artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping organisational structures, roles and careers, leadership and the meaning of work, evoking a maelstrom of human emotions. From fear, anxiety, and apprehension to excitement and wonder, it’s hard to know exactly what to make of the rapidly changing AI transformations underway in our workplaces, organisations, and institutions.

According to GIBS lecturer and CEO of the African Academy of Artificial Intelligence, Greg Serandos: “The greatest opportunity that AI presents to humans is its ability to do the repetitive work that humans shouldn’t need to handle. Freed from boring, rote tasks, we can focus on more fulfilling creative and strategic tasks.”

AI workplace transformations make new demands on leaders

The event will highlight how critical it is for organisations to have leaders in place who are highly literate when it comes to AI. It’s an opportunity for business executives, Change Management specialists, HR professionals, Industrial Psychologists, and Executive Coaches, amongst others, to get valuable insights from AI’s leading edge.

Serandos, who will share expertise and latest insights into AI leadership and strategy, says, “Leaders, first and foremost, need to understand the basics. We are in Year 3 of a 5-year AI-driven business transformation, so AI education is now urgent. This AI knowledge will help leaders identify high-impact low-risk AI applications to implement in their organisations.”

The other keynote speaker is Francois van der Merwe, CEO of Otinga.io and an award-winning AI strategist, who points out that “In the world of AI, it starts with understanding how the technology can be used for good, how it fails, how it might cause harm and most importantly, how it can be used to create immense value in the world. After all, every useful technology that humans have discovered or invented has the potential to create or destroy. What’s important is the will of the person wielding the technology.”

Holding onto what makes us human

AI is highly capable at routine tasks, such as data analysis. It makes sense, then, for humans to hand over that kind of work to machines; if we don’t, we will be left behind by our competitors. However, there’s a significant range of work where the human being cannot be replaced, as well as the necessity for humans to oversee many of AI’s outputs.

Carl Badenhorst, SACAP’s Head of Learning Innovation, says, “AI can process data and suggest answers fast. But people ask the deeper questions. We understand nuance and context. We know when something feels off. We can pause, reflect, and choose. We are part of a long story, from stone tools to AI. Each tool changes how we work and think. But people shape tools, not the other way around. Being human now means learning to work with AI without losing our thinking. It’s not about knowing everything. It’s about knowing how to learn, how to ask, and how to challenge what AI gives us.”

Join SACAP for this essential discussion on the future of work and AI’s role in shaping human potential. Don’t miss the opportunity to gain actionable insights from top AI thought leaders.

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