Leaders Grapple with AI’s Double Edge
The HBR Leadership Summit 2026 recently convened, bringing together some of the world’s top minds to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on their organizations. At the center of the conversation: will AI make teams more productive, or slowly erode the skills they’re trying to build?
University of Pennsylvania’s Angel Adona Ignatius, a renowned expert in AI and leadership, posed this question to a packed audience. Ignatius, editor-at-large of Harvard Business Review, emphasized that the current state of AI is a double-edged sword.
On one hand, AI promises to make us faster and more productive. With automation, tasks can be completed in a fraction of the time it takes humans. But, on the other hand, there’s the risk of rendering human skills obsolete. Adi Ignatius noted, “There is an underlying question as to what it means to allow AI to take over tasks that were previously performed by humans.”
The Skills Conundrum
Leaders are struggling to balance the promise of AI with the need to develop their teams’ skills. They’re grappling with the concept of “job augmentation” vs. “job replacement.” Some argue that AI will free humans from mundane tasks, allowing them to focus on higher-value work. Others fear that AI will displace human workers, making certain skills redundant.
The conversation at the Leadership Summit highlighted the need for a more nuanced understanding of AI’s role in the workplace. Ignatius emphasized that leaders must consider the types of skills that will be needed in a future dominated by AI.
What This Means
The key takeaway is that leaders must be intentional about developing the skills of their teams. This means investing in training and education programs that focus on skills that are complementary to AI, such as creativity, empathy, and critical thinking.
By doing so, leaders can harness the benefits of AI while ensuring that their teams remain adaptable and resilient in the face of unprecedented change. As Ignatius noted, “The question is not whether AI will be a net positive or negative, but how we can use it to make our teams more productive and effective.”
