Top Tech Advisor: Every CEO Is Getting AI Wrong
Top Tech Advisor: Every CEO Is Getting AI Wrong  
Podcast: Digital Disruption with Geoff Nielson
Published On: Mon May 11 2026
Description: 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 Intro01:30 Is “this time different” with technology?02:29 The Big Shift: Why organizations must fundamentally change03:18 Scalable efficiency vs scalable learning05:33 The dangerous AI narrative: automation & job cuts06:19 Why efficiency alone leads to diminishing returns09:42 Trust: The missing foundation in most organizations10:50 What happens when companies fail to adapt12:21 Debunking AI myths and media narratives12:46 Humans vs machines: who should do what?13:14 Reskilling vs building human capabilities15:03 How to convince leaders to rethink AI strategy16:24 Fear vs opportunity in leadership20:16 What real workplace learning looks like21:18 The future leader: asking better questions24:38 How to structure high-impact teams26:06 The collapse of trust in institutions26:58 Corporate narratives & Apple’s “Think Different”30:06 Creativity vs technology in strategy30:41 Zoom Out, Zoom In strategy explained33:08 Microsoft example: seeing the future early35:14 Why agility without direction fails37:21 Understanding “the edge” and innovation39:34 Why transformation efforts fail in large companies41:22 Scaling the edge vs top-down change42:52 The power of the “explorer mindset”47:18 Why companies suppress passion48:31 Only 14% of workers are truly passionate50:18 Can passion be cultivated at scale?52:29 Does IT still matter in the AI era?55:07 AI, healthcare, and the future of longevity57:13 From healthcare to “wellness ecosystems”58:19 The rise of the trusted advisor59:50 Can AI replace human advisors?01:02:25 Advice for leaders01:04:18 AI is a tool humans determine its impact01:06:29 Why most digital transformations failConnect with John:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhagel/X: https://x.com/jhagelOur links:Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcastFollow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG