Understanding the Human Side of AI
This blog is the fourth and final in the Performance, Rewritten series.
As we conclude our Performance Rewritten series, we turn our attention to the horizon. Throughout this series, we’ve explored the changing needs of employees, how high-performing cultures operate and the habits that define managers in a new era of work. Now we face the final question: what must businesses do to survive in an AI-driven future?
AI adoption continues to accelerate, but the results remain uneven. While investment is at record levels, only a small fraction of organisations report capturing significant value from AI. Nearly every organisation is experimenting with AI – but only 1% consider themselves mature in how it’s embedded into daily work.
The reason is clear: success depends more on people than it does on technology. Organisations that can reimagine how work gets done, and employees who are equipped with the skills to execute it, are the ones who will thrive.
In our final blog of the series, we explore some of the factors that will differentiate success from failure:
1. Intention in everything
Most companies start by adding AI tools to their existing processes. But real value comes from rethinking where AI can add the most benefit and redesigning the workplace accordingly. BCG research found that AI leaders allocate 70% of their budgets to people and processes — not just the tools themselves. Companies need to be intentional about where and how they’re adding AI into the business. Doing so requires careful planning, bringing together expertise from beyond IT, considering also HR & People, Operations and the Leaders of the departments where the use cases will affect.
What successful companies do differently:
· They examine every process and question every assumption
· They rebuild operations from the ground up rather than layering AI on top
· They select a few areas to prioritise, rather than trying to transform every part of the business at once
· They bring together expertise from across the business
2. Build technical and soft skills
Generative AI is reshaping roles faster than most organisations can adapt. Executives expect 40% of the workforce to evolve with AI, yet many lack structured reskilling programmes.
Success depends on developing both technical and human capabilities. Research from Microsoft found that employees with higher confidence in AI often demonstrated less critical thinking — a reminder that human judgment must remain central. Future-ready employees will blend emotional intelligence, adaptability, and strategic thinking with AI-driven insights.
What successful companies do differently:
· They proactively develop skills, such as emotional intelligence and critical thinking
· They investigate and consider potential AI-related concerns before they occur
· They invest in long-term learning and resources, not one-off training
3. Prioritise trust and transparency
Employee trust in AI directly impacts engagement and adoption rates. Companies that actively manage AI risks and communicate transparently see higher employee confidence and better business outcomes.
At the leadership level, IBM’s global CEO survey reported that 64% of CEOs believe the workforce’s trust and adoption of AI is more important to success than the technology itself . That means building transparency into every AI implementation: explaining data use, decision logic, and ethical safeguards. When employees understand why outputs are generated — and how to challenge them — adoption becomes both responsible and effective.
What successful companies do differently:
· They monitor employee sentiment towards AI regularly
· They track trust metrics alongside technical performance indicators
· They regularly communicate updates regularly, positive or negative
· They have clear AI governance policies in place and make them visible to all employees
Looking ahead…
The future belongs to organisations that embrace AI as a catalyst for fundamental transformation. Preparing for a new era in the workplace is not a one and done. It’s a journey, not a destination. As AI evolves, so must the approaches we take to harness its potential
The companies that commit to this continuous transformation - investing resources in both technology and people - will not just survive the AI revolution. They will define it.
This is the fourth article in our Performance, Rewritten series. At PowerUp, we help organisations uncover the root causes that shape performance and give managers with the tools to create environments where AI and people thrive together.
Discover the other articles: ‘4 Habits Every Future-Ready Manager Needs in the Age of AI’ ‘What High-Performance Cultures Do Differently’ and ‘What Your Employees Want (and Need) in 2025’.