Reflections from the latest LeaderX® roundtable: Soul Over Slop

How do we stay human in an AI world?

That was the loosely framed, but deeply resonant question at the heart of last Thursday’s LeaderX® roundtable dinner in Spitalfields. A diverse mix of executives gathered around the table to explore the uneasy tension between originality and efficiency, creativity and commercialism, innovation and intent.

As ever with LeaderX®, the conversation moved freely, driven by the energy in the room. It was a night of honesty, healthy disagreement and some surprisingly raw reflections. There were no slide decks and no need for moderation, just people grappling with what all this means, not only for business but for us as humans.

We were honoured to have Pravina Ladva, Group Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Swiss Re, open the conversation. Drawing on her leadership experience within one of the world’s largest reinsurers, she spoke candidly about the challenges of driving AI adoption at scale, the cultural and ethical questions that come with automation and the hesitations many people still feel. However, her message was clear: AI is here to stay, but we must adopt it with careful consideration, intent, responsibility and humanity. Her thoughtful framing helped shape the rich and open dialogue that followed.

What unfolded was not a technical debate, but a soulful one.

Human service versus AI at scale

One of the most thought-provoking threads was whether human interaction will become a luxury; a premium service reserved for the few while AI handles the rest. Some saw this as inevitable. Others challenged the ethics behind such a shift. Could the rise of “AI for the masses” mark a new era of digital inequality?

The term “enshittification” was referenced, describing how once-promising technologies can degrade into soulless, extractive experiences over time. This served as a warning about where unchecked automation might lead.

The creative economy under pressure

There was strong concern about the role of generative AI in repurposing creative work without credit or compensation. If large models are trained on the originality of human creators yet give nothing back, what is the incentive to keep creating? Are we heading for a cultural drought, fuelled by systems that only consume?

This prompted calls for stronger protection and transparency around training data. Several attendees suggested that if AI is to coexist with human creativity, it must evolve with clearer rules and fairer recognition.

Trust, truth and judgement

As AI becomes more embedded in decision-making, how do we ensure that its outputs are trustworthy? Several participants raised concerns about misinformation, propaganda and the erosion of human judgement. If we no longer ask where an answer came from or whether it is true, what happens to our critical thinking?

There was a sense that the challenge is not just technical, but educational. Leaders must equip their teams to question AI’s outputs, not simply accept them.

A shift towards the physical

The group discussed the rise of “de-digitalisation”, particularly among Gen Z. Physical books, film cameras and vinyl records are making a comeback. This is not just about nostalgia. It reflects a growing desire to slow down, find presence and protect mental space.

A related thread noted how younger generations are learning to defend themselves from technology’s excesses. Many are setting mobile-free boundaries and stepping away from constant social media documentation. They are exploring ways to preserve depth and human connection in a digital-first world.

Defining AI - or failing to

Despite the intensity of the conversation, there was no shared definition of AI. Most focused on generative tools, but interpretations varied. This lack of clarity created tension. Some were optimistic, others cautious, depending on their perspective.

It was clear that AI affects everyone differently. Designers, product thinkers, engineers and business owners all experience its impact through distinct lenses. We are shaping new terminology and understandings based on our respective fields. The result is fragmented dialogue, with each field developing its own language and concerns.

This highlighted the need for clearer, shared definitions across disciplines. Without that, it becomes harder to align on strategy, priorities or purpose.

Creativity vs Commercialism: A Polite Clash

A defining feature of the evening was the tension between those who prioritised human-centred creativity and those focused on efficiency and scale. Both views held merit, but the friction was real.

While some were energised by fast deployment and market potential, others warned of shallowness and a loss of meaning. One contributor pointed out that organisations often chase value without asking for whom that value is created.

This echoed themes in Deep Work by Cal Newport, which argues for the importance of focused, undistracted work. Newport highlights how deep effort is becoming rare and valuable and the group noted this may be exactly what is at risk in the race toward automation.

Bias, error detection and operational cost were less discussed but acknowledged as areas needing future focus.

We’ll Be OK, Won’t We?

Some attendees drew parallels with the early days of the internet. Yes, this is another major transition, but humans adapt. We have done it before and we will do it again. One comment summed it up: “We’ll be OK.”

But only if we remain alert, keep questioning and hold on to what is fundamentally human.

Final Thought

AI is moving fast, but that does not mean we have to move carelessly.

Soul Over Slop was a timely reminder that leadership in the age of AI is not only about understanding new technologies. It is about refusing to let them flatten what makes us human. We must embrace innovation with intent, responsibility and care.

A powerful question emerged in the closing reflections: what do we do when an AI can perform a task faster and perhaps better than we can, yet it is something important for our own learning and development? In our effort to optimise, we risk outsourcing not just the work, but the growth that comes with it.

Modu offered a compelling reflection: The most striking insight was that all disciplines now appear to be touched by the introduction of generative AI. As a result, most businesses, whether prepared or not, have effectively shifted from business as usual into a state of continuous change. This makes one capability more essential than ever: the ability to manage rapid change well.

Pravina offered a final quote: Ultimately, the added value of AI will come from a smart combination of AI capabilities and human expertise. Our goal is not full automation, but human augmentation - we want AI to do the heavy lifting so experts can focus on more complex tasks. We want to scale responsibly, leveraging the best of both worlds!

Reactions of the Evening

Excellent evening, it was great meeting some more fellow LeaderX. Super venue and food too.
Neil Fox - Director Programme Delivery - Swiss Re

Fabulous evening! Thank you Modu for organising and thank you to all of you for the fascinating and inspiring conversation!
Mandie Beitner - AI Director - Arm

Thank you for a great event last night. The food was excellent and it was a pleasure to be part of the evening.
Tim MacKinnon - Director of Engineering - Marken 

For leaders who won’t let bots kill the craft, the work continues!