machines can successfully work together to lead the organization of tomorrow. Required reading for all future business leaders!”
Francisco Veloso, Dean of Imperial College of Business
“An insightful and thought provoking book which should be essential reading for all leaders operating in an increasingly technology fuelled world.”
Melanie Richards, Deputy Chair KPMG in the UK
“As the power of AI touches practically every facet of our lives, Dr De Cremer’s Leadership by Algorithm is a must-read. His incisive analysis and thought-provoking ideas offer every reader fresh perspectives and prudent insights that are essential in riding on this massive revolution. Brilliant work.”
Yeow-Kwang Guan, CEO, Mizuho Bank Singapore
“Leadership by Algorithm is a wonderful exploration of how artificial intelligence will transform management and leadership. The book makes bold predictions about the nature and role of leadership in tomorrow’s organisations, and will fundamentally change the way you think about the role that algorithms will and should play in organizations. A truly original and insightful book!”
Bert De Reyck, Dean of UCL School of Management
“Leadership by Algorithm is extremely topical, and can give us guidance on how to redefine leadership for the next decade.”
Peter Hinssen, serial technology entrepreneur and author of The New Normal and The Day After Tomorrow
“David De Cremer addresses the weighty topic of the appropriate organizational roles for AI and algorithms in a way that is lucid, accessible, and thought provoking. AI plays an increasingly vital part in the functioning of business and society. As this book points out, true leaders need to consider, thoughtfully, the associated opportunities and risks to respond in a way that is genuinely wise, not merely clever.”
Robert Koepp, Principal of Geoeconomix and former director of The Economist Group
“The business world moves in fast and volatile ways, which requires companies today to augment human intelligence by employing artificial intelligence systems. But, how to do this? In Leadership by Algorithm, David De Cremer addresses this question and introduces you to a whole new way of thinking about the role that algorithms will and should play in organizations to win. Highly recommended!”
Alex Schenk, Head FRA Operations Novartis Business Services
“In our rapidly technologizing times, AI may be blazing a trail but sound leadership is essential for harnessing its full potential. Leadership by Algorithm provides powerful insights for riding this critical wave.”
Sun Sun Lim, author of Transcendent Parenting: Raising Children in the Digital Age and Professor and Head of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Singapore University of Technology and Design
“Like the long-discussed dispute over efficiency and equality, the rapid development of AI gives rise to the discussion whether the pursuit of maximizing efficiency at the cost of a less humane society is acceptable? Leadership by Algorithm echoes the importance of using AI in wise ways to improve the human condition—a purpose that technology is originally developed to serve. Thought-provoking!”
Frederick Shen, CIO, Aeternam Stella Investment Group
For Hannah – with the aspiration for her to live an authentic life in a nearly automated future!
Prologue
I’m seated at a round table where I am being introduced to several conference attendees. Our table is not the only one in the room. Many other round tables fill up the ballroom and have people seated in nice suits and dresses. After being introduced to my neighbors, I sit down and look around for a moment to make myself familiar with the context.
It is 7pm on a Thursday evening. I am a young scholar, only having received my PhD a few years ago, and I find myself in the midst of a fancy business event. When I was invited by a colleague, I was unsure about whether to go, not knowing how it could be relevant for my research. Did I have anything in common with these executives? It took some persuasion, but eventually my colleague convinced me and here I was. So, to make the best out of it, I started talking to my neighbor.
He was a young, ambitious person, who seemed to have it all figured out. He was recently promoted to an executive position and had a clear idea about what success was and how to achieve it. Clearly someone who knew what he was doing. I became intrigued with his acute drive to talk about his successes and his conviction that you have to push limits until you get what you want.
After listening for a while, I managed to ask him a question. My question, which must have sounded quite naïve to those sitting at my table, was how he was so convinced that a business world where everyone would be pushing the limits continuously could survive. Wouldn’t it be the case that such behavior, shown by all, would create problems and maybe damage or even destroy the system that had been built?
As I expected, he was surprised, and for a second it almost looked like he didn’t know what to say. However, he quickly overcame his surprise and simply responded that such a situation would never happen. If there was any risk that our behavior would lead to threats to our organizations or society, he was convinced that science and technology would solve it. In his view, technology allowed us to push beyond our human limits and helped to overcome any challenges that we may encounter.
Somewhat taken by his answer, I followed up with another question, asking him whether such a belief in the almost superpower of technology would not make him too dependent on that same technology. Wouldn’t that make him surplus to requirements in the long term? He looked at me in disbelief and said with a grin on his face that I should not worry about that, because it would never be an issue. He then turned his attention to the neighbor on his other side, which made clear to me that our conversation was finished.
As a young scholar, but also as a person, this conversation made a deep impression on me. The story stayed with me for many years, but eventually I forgot about it. Until a few years ago! When I started working on questions addressing the existential drive of humans in developing technology the story came back to me. And, this time, two thoughts kept flashing through my head.
First, why was it that my companion at the dinner didn’t seem to be aware that his own behavior was leading to problems that could only be solved if the science of technology made sufficient progress? Second, where did he find that sense of confidence that technology would solve it all for him to remain in charge and to keep doing what he was doing?
Both questions are important to ask, but I was particularly intrigued by the thought that someone could be so confident in technology innovation. It made me curious as to the kind of future that awaits us when technology will have the potential to impact on our lives in such a significant way. What kind of technology would that be and how would it affect us?
Well, as you are probably all aware, today we are living in an era where exactly this kind of technology innovation is knocking loudly on all of our doors. It is a strong and confident knock from a technology ready to take its place in human society. What am I talking about? Clearly, I am talking about artificial intelligence (AI).
Today, AI is beyond cool! Every advancement that is made in the field of technology is hailed as a great triumph by many. And with that triumph its impact becomes visible and that impact is recognized as significant. Indeed, AI brings the message that our world will change fundamentally.
In
