The Human Code: Version Us.
Exploring how authenticity, ownership, and coherence can help us thrive in an AI-powered workplace.
The human premium. Humans closing the loop. Creators and builders. AI transformers. The LLM for Business.
Many ideas. Some neologisms. And an almost systematic resort to buzzwords.
Let’s take a beat and recap.
My initial intention was to explore the impact of Artificial Intelligence on human behaviour in the workplace. That intention still holds, stronger than ever. And the process has been nothing short of energising: progress on the AI front is so rapid that there’s always a thought worth sharing, a perspective worth exploring, a post worth writing.
Amid this fast-evolving landscape, I believe three workplace principles will stand the test of time — regardless of the evolution of AI.
Let me summarise them.
Authenticity
To stand out in the next world of work, you must be genuine. Not just in style, but in substance, in how you connect, collaborate, and communicate. Easier said than done, for sure, but AI will fuel this transformation by:
broadening your solution horizon: working closely with AI tools allows you to view problems from multiple angles: not just your own, but also that of the colleague or client you are trying to convince.
widening your language palette: working intentionally with AI tools, you gain a finer grasp understanding of how others frame the same issue: their vocabulary, their reasoning, even their tone.
Ownership
To stay relevant, you must define and defend your cognitive boundaries. Ownership means:
thinking critically about what AI provides: blindly accepting AI suggestions exposes your lack of judgment. It weakens trust. It undermines your credibility. It makes you interchangeable.
weaving your thoughts into AI-generated outputs: not the other way around. If you let your thought fabric lead the interaction, AI becomes a true amplifier of your ideas, your presence and your leadership
Coherence
This sits in between the two and holds them together. Without coherence, authenticity is unstable. Ownership becomes performative. In other words, it means:
being legible to others: you may experience self-satisfaction with your AI-enriched perspectives, but keep in mind they will only gain value with acceptance from other stakeholders.
staying reliable to yourself: you may be overwhelmed by constant change in an ever more fluid workplace. Let coherence be your internal compass.
Authenticity, ownership, coherence. Probably the best words to recap my key messages so far.
Am I missing something? What words come to your mind to describe an AI-powered workplace?