Mary Kemp | It’s About People, Not Tech: The Human Side of AI Implementation

In this insightful episode of Helping Organisations Thrive, Julian sits down with Mary Kemp, award-winning founder of AI Potential, to explore the human side of AI implementation in the workplace. Mary challenges the common narrative around AI job displacement, delivering the powerful insight that "people worry that AI is going to replace their jobs and it will not—people using AI will replace their jobs." She emphasises that AI should be viewed as a skill rather than a tool, requiring intentional development and organisational support. The conversation reveals that the real challenge isn't the technology itself, but managing the unprecedented uncertainty that comes with this transformation, making it fundamentally about people, not tech.

Mary shares practical strategies for organisations looking to build an "AI culture," including her five stages of AI adoption (indifference, fear, cheating, confidence, and transformation) and explains why skeptics—whom she calls "meerkats"—can become an organisation's biggest AI champions when properly supported. Drawing from real-world examples ranging from council tutors to plumbing firms, she demonstrates how AI can solve repetitive tasks and unlock human potential when implemented thoughtfully. The discussion also addresses critical concerns around data security, the rise of "shadow AI" in organisations, and the World Economic Forum's prediction that 40% of current job skills will be replaced over the next five years—while simultaneously creating 78 million new jobs we can't yet imagine.

 

Connect with Mary:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-kemp-ai/

Website:  https://aipotential.ai/

 

 

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If you are looking for a Blueprint to help you and your business manage uncertainty, deal with failure and navigate change then reach out to Julian at: julian@julianrobertsconsulting.com

 

You can buy my book "Weathering the Storm: A Guide to Building Resilient Teams" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DFTYN2Y2

 

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