Episode Details

Deloitte just dropped its 2026 Global Human Capital Trends report — a massive survey of over 9,000 business and HR leaders across 89 countries — and the headline number is striking: 70% of leaders say being fast and nimble is their top competitive strategy. But only 6% are actually doing the hard work of designing how humans and AI work together. In this episode, we break down why the technology-first approach most organizations are taking is backfiring, what the 6% are doing differently, and what this means practically for HR leaders trying to build adaptable, AI-ready organizations. The gap between ambition and execution is real — and the data shows it has measurable consequences. Organizations taking a tech-first approach to AI are 1.6 times more likely to miss their expected returns compared to those using human-centered design. And while 85% of leaders say building adaptability is critical, only 7% are making real progress. If you're an HR leader trying to figure out where to focus your energy, this episode gives you the Deloitte research framing — and a practical lens for thinking about human-centered AI design from hiring through to performance management.