Company CEOs say no new hires without proof AI can’t do the job. Companies around the world are making similar statements, including hospital group Mediclinic in South Africa and e-commerce platform Shopify. What do I make of this? I thought you'd never ask!

First, I'd like to share a couple of observations about board of directors and executive behavior in these types of scenarios. First, if they don't know what something is and what it can do, then they can’t properly conduct a risk assessment so they default to cutting costs and inertia. That approach reduces risks and costs, ensuring good short-term financial results. Second, this approach can be used as a de facto hiring freeze, also cutting costs but without the blowback.

So what is the criteria for AI replacing workers? I thought you'd never ask!

Our position is that all companies need to take this approach as Mediclinic and Spotify have taken. However, the key is to not create a handbrake on the business as a result of leaders not knowing what to do with AI.

The criteria for choosing between using AI and hiring a human are:

• Data quality: Is our data clean and reliable
• Impact vs complexity: Is the task high‑impact, high‑frequency, and low‑complexity?
• Integration cost & risk: What’s the effort and exposure of tying into legacy systems?
• Governance timeframe: How long until compliance and controls are in place? (Pro tip - if it's too long, go with humans.)
• Risk manageability: Can we monitor and mitigate AI‑specific risks effectively?

If you follow these guidelines, you'll never make a mistake.

Just kidding!

You will make mistakes, but if your GRC is solid, you should be able to live to fight another day. And remember, fortune favours the brave, and sometimes the brave move is, keep the people 😀

Leaderex Appoints AAAI as Custodian for the AI Strategy Conference on 9 September

Leaderex is SA’s largest gathering of executives, professionals, and entrepreneurs and returns on 9 September 2025 for its 9th year. Held under the Tech Summit banner on Day 1, the AI Strategy Conference is expected to attract a few thousand visitors over the course of the day. This year introduces a new format: core programming from 9am–3pm, followed by sponsor-led activities starting in the late afternoon. If your company is interested in sponsoring, please reach out to me for details.

What We Do at the African Academy of AI

The African Academy of AI (AAAI) empowers business leaders to navigate the AI era confidently. Whether you are embarking on your AI journey or looking to accelerate adoption, our executive-level programmes provide clear guidance, practical roadmaps and hands-on experiences. We focus on growing businesses and enterprises.

We will be launching four core offerings next week that we are really excited about - Keynotes, Executive Coaching, Workshops, and Masterclasses. We engage customers directly and through the business schools we have partnered with. Stand by for website links!

New Executive Education Intakes: Strategies for Advanced AI Leadership in Africa

Henley Business School Africa, Johannesburg, 8-10 July - Register Here!

University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, Cape Town, 28-30 July - Contact me for more information, as that webpage isn’t up yet

Recommended YouTube Video: NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang's Vision for the Future

If you are not technical and want to understand the past, present, and future of AI, this is an easy-to-understand, approachable interview. The journalist, Cleo Abram, to her credit spent months preparing for her big moment, and she delivered (although Jensen looked apprehensive at the outset). As you may know, in the last few years, NVIDIA has skyrocketed to become one of the world's most valuable companies. That's because, beginning in the 90s, they led a fundamental shift in how computers work, now unleashing the current explosion of what’s possible with technology. A huge amount of the most futuristic tech you’re hearing about - in AI, robotics, gaming, self-driving cars, breakthrough medical research - relies on new chips and software designed by NVIDIA.

Watch Now!

The African Academy of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) empowers organisations across Africa to strategically integrate AI into their operations, policies, and products. Through tailored advisory, education, and practical implementation, we guide businesses, governments, and communities towards successful digital transformation.

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