The importance of being human (1/2) - why organizations need to think beyond ‘human in the loop’ blandishments when it comes to AI adoption

The article argues that CIOs and technology leaders should move beyond simplistic "human in the loop" messaging and make deliberate choices about which work AI should automate versus which human skills must be preserved. While AI can raise productivity, indiscriminate use can de-skill teams, weaken learning, and erode the next generation of talent unless organizations redesign training, assessment, and feedback loops to keep humans meaningfully engaged. For IT organizations, the strategic implication is that AI adoption is not just a tooling decision but a workforce and operating-model decision: companies that intentionally preserve critical expertise and build structured human practice will outperform those that let convenience drive behavior. Leaders should treat AI as a powerful assistant, but not as a substitute for skill development, judgment formation, and organizational learning.