Leading AI agents, AI business models research, the 4 Cs of AI literacy, and more

📖In this issue

• Human+Tech Week in San Francisco

• Effective leadership of AI agents predicts leadership of human teams

• People in developing countries are more confident in their AI capabilities than those in developed countries

• Compilation of AI in business models research

• Podcast: Nisha Talagala on the four Cs of AI literacy, vibe coding, critical thinking about AI, and teaching AI fundamentals

• HUmans + AI: what does it mean?

💡Human+Tech Week in San Francisco

I’m delighted that Human+Tech Week is happening, bringing together those who believe in a human-focused future amplified by technology. I’m even happier that I’m speaking there, giving the kickoff session on “Infinite Potential: Humans + AI”.

Learn more at Human Tech Week. This is going to be an amazing event, so looking forward to it.

🧠🤖Humans + AI

Effective leadership of AI agents predicts leadership of human teams

"Leadership skill with AI agents predicts leadership skill with human groups." The likely corollary: effective human leaders will also be good leaders of AI agents - and far more importantly for the next phase of organization - of Humans + AI teams.

Measuring Human Leadership Skills with AI Agents
Summary of key insights

People in developing countries are more confident in their AI capabilities than those in developed countries

Many very interesting insights in a KPMG-University of Melbourne study on trust and attitudes to AI around the world. One of them: People in developing countries and Middle East self-rate themselves far higher on AI usage, knowledge and capabilities than those in developed countries.

Trust in artificial intelligence: global insights 2025
Summary of key insights

Compilation of AI in business models research

My biggest single focus recently has been the potential of AI for business model innovation and transformation. Here is a compilation of some of the best open access research on the topic I've found along the way.

Insightful research on AI in business model innovation

🎙️This week’s podcast episode

Why you should listen

Nisha is a global leader in AI literacy. She shares powerful insights on the programs she is deploying globally and how to most effectively teach - and learn - AI and its capabilities.

🎙️Humans + AI podcast launch episode

In the Humans + AI Launch episode I run through the backstory and why the name change for the podcast, and what the podcast will cover, including the augmentation of humans as individuals, in organizations, and across society and humanity.

🪟Perspective

I have tied my work and identity to the phrase and framing "Humans + AI". So what do I mean by that?

Critically, humans come first.

Then we add AI.

It we use it well (and there is still plenty we need to discover and learn on how best to do that) then we can...

...augment ourselves

...amplify our capabilities

...achieve greater positive impact

...stretch our potential

...accelerate learning and discovery

...become more human and humane

...make better-informed, wiser decisions to shape our future

...continuously redefine and expand what it means to be human

These are some of the foundations of positive co-evolution.

Our tools are most definitely shaping us.

But we can choose to go beyond the default devolutionary response to sycophantic cognitive protheses.

We can craft accelerated positive evolution in ourselves, designing how we use AI to shape and create ourselves with intent, in our mindset, attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and actions.

Almost all value creation will be from a Humans + AI configuration.

Every single venture from solo entrepreneneurs to global conglomerates will be designed around Humans + AI.

There are a vast array of choices in the design of Humans + AI organizations.

I believe deeply that those companies that prioritize and value humans over AI will far outsucceed those that don't.

They will design Humans + AI workflows that deepen and broaden the skills and capabilities of the humans involved.

They will attract the world's best talent, who are seeking to augment themselves, and will do so on a staggering scale.

They will continuously reinvent themselves using rapidly evolving Humans + AI team structures to constantly forge new opportunities.

There is so much more, and I will expand on these ideas over time, perhaps build this into a manifesto of sorts.

In short:

Humans and humanity have infinite potential.

Today far more than ever before in our history.

Let's push it out and see what how far that postive potential might go.