Bringing the Human back into Tech transformations

This article was first published in the May edition of People Matters Perspectives.

Transformations today aren’t just about developing new technologies and processes—they’re also about developing people. Yet, the rapid pace of change often unintentionally overlooks the human side of things.

Studies show that while AI adoption boosts productivity and saves time—giving us more space for creativity and self-development—they also bring serious concerns. Misinformation, unintentional bias, dataism, and perhaps the biggest worry: the loss of the human touch.

We’re working hard to train AI to follow ethical and humane principles, but at the end of the day, AI often just mimics humans—without actually having human qualities. It processes data, not emotions. It reacts, but doesn’t truly understand. As Peter Hinssen pointed out, “Training a lot of data means if the input data is biased, the output will be even more biased.”

A recent example of this is ChatGPT’s new model, which has been providing biased and overly agreeable responses. As Justin Harvey warned, “STOP sharing your feelings with ChatGPT. It's not safe anymore. The AI will praise you for your courage. Wondering if you are dramatically superior to your peers in delusional ways?” Because AI chatbot only knows what you feed it—and often just reflects it back without challenging or balancing your perspective.

Chatbots can be insightful tools—but echo, and not evaluate. If you want something human and grounded in reality, turn to your BFF :)

But hey, your BFF doesn’t know everything, and the harder it hits, the more we realise: we need to learn to live with AI in a way that doesn’t turn it into a threat or a risk to humanity.

In the workplace, the rise of AI agents – expected to take over more decision-making like Microsoft predicts – it becomes even more critical to put the right guardrails in place to avoid real pitfalls ahead. These AI agents can make decisions AND take actions across apps on our behalf, sidelining crucial human thinking, intuition, and ethics—especially in complex, sensitive areas like hiring, and finance. c

AI agents will carry sensitive information, and if not handled correctly, open doors to data leaks, hacks, or misuse.

This is where humans need to step in—to take control and lead with strategic, human-centric decisions. 

“Humanifying AI” is emerging as a key theme this year, with leaders focusing on preserving the human touch in tech transformation. That means equipping people to work with intelligent data analytics, integrating new tools seamlessly into daily workflows, and measuring real impact—not just technical KPIs, but outcomes that truly matter to humans.

“Gut instinct is giving way to data-led governance. Whether it’s redesigning performance frameworks, rebalancing hybrid workforce models, or evolving DEI metrics—modern HR relies on structured data to challenge assumptions, test hypotheses, and justify investments,” shared Santosh Kher. 

The truth is, AI brings real benefits. The gap lies in the skills to use it effectively. The more people learn how to work with AI tools, the more their confidence grows—and their fears fade.

As Dr. Mostafa Ahmed Ghanima emphasised, “AI won't replace professionals; instead, it will empower them to focus on strategic initiatives by automating routine tasks and enhancing decision-making.”

Maan Fatani added, “The key to leveraging AI lies in balancing its power with the necessary guardrails for trustworthy execution. AI combined with strategic insight can unlock new opportunities.”

Gulf nations are on the right track—like for the UAE imparting AI knowledge starting from Kindergarten so that the nation’s young talent grows up not only understanding ethical usage, but also learning to live with AI and manage its risks confidently, without fear.

Did you find this article insightful? People Matters Perspectives is the official LinkedIn newsletter of People Matters, bringing you exclusive insights from the People and Work space across four regions and more. Read the previous editions here, and keep an eye out for the upcoming June edition rolling-out soon.