The dynamics of change mean that employees and leaders are increasingly asking themselves about the stability of their employment and, more philosophically, about the purpose of existence. Virtual work, which became popular after the COVID-19 pandemic, gave an opportunity to spend more time outside the office, but on the other hand, it atomised society, loosened the bonds between employees and employers and increased competition for the best talents.
However, this is not the end of the changes that await the world in the coming years. Looking ahead, experts predict that the Internet of Things (IoT) and the Internet of Everything (IoE), blockchain, metaverse, multimodal artificial intelligence and quantum technologies will be leading trends in the coming decade. The ability to effectively create synergy between man and machine and develop cobotics in companies will become crucial. All these changes are accompanied by uncertainty. Never before has society faced such dynamic changes that affect both rich and poor, women and men, developed and developing countries.
The need to adapt to new trends, to constantly acquire new skills, to search for meaning, to build one's identity on values – these are the greatest challenges in the age of the Fourth and Fifth Digital Revolutions. Where do leaders find themselves in this dynamic? How do they see their future? Where do they see opportunities and where do they see threats from the implementation of technological innovation?
These questions are answered by the "Przywódca Przyszłości: Jak zmieni się rola lidera w erze sztucznej inteligencji?" ['Leader of the Future: How Will the Role of the Leader Change in the Age of AI?] – a report prepared jointly by the EY Academy of Business team, coach and trainer Małgorzata Jakubicz and the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Cybercommunication Research operating at the Faculty of Management, University of Lodz.
In the first stage, 10 male and female leaders were invited to take part in a qualitative study aimed at creating a cafeteria of answers for 14 questions formulated during project planning. At the second stage, a survey in the electronic form was made available to male and female leaders. A total of 720 people took part in the survey, 58.47% of whom were women. Individuals aged 35-44 (42%) and 25-54 (35.69%) constituted the dominant groups.
The report shows both positive and negative aspects of the impact of digital transformation and artificial intelligence on leaders. On the one hand, AI saves time, organises work better and focuses on human relations. On the other hand, it introduces concerns about job loss, productivity pressures and information overload. The key challenge is to strike a balance between using technology and maintaining authenticity and human values in management. Organisations are therefore faced with the challenge of deriving value from the integration of digitalisation with human work and supporting leaders in adapting to new technologies, while ensuring their well-being and competence development
– says Dr hab. Artur Modlinski, Head of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Cybercommunication Research.
Twenty-eight percent of the respondents expressed fear of losing their jobs to AI. Digital transformation raises fears about automation, which may replace human work. Leaders fear that their role will be diminished or eliminated altogether, affecting their psychological and professional well-being.
In addition, 22% of the respondents noted that AI might lead to less use of the potential of human intellect The automation of many intellectual tasks may result in less use of human analytical and creative abilities, which reduces the intellectual value of human work.
Interestingly, 21% of the survey participants feel pressure to match AI performance. Artificial intelligence is able to perform tasks faster and with less margin for error, which places high performance demands on leaders, leading to increased stress and professional pressure.
It is particularly interesting that 35% of the respondents indicated that AI allowed them to devote more time to building and maintaining relationships with people. Automating routine tasks gives leaders more time to interact with employees, which can improve the work atmosphere and increase team engagement. In addition, 34% of the respondents perceive that AI simplifies the execution of daily tasks. Automating administrative processes and tasks allows leaders to focus on more strategic aspects of management, which improves operational efficiency and frees up time for interpersonal relationships.
The report (in Polish)
Author: Dr hab. Artur Modliński
Edit: Faculty of Management, University of Lodz