Solving the Human Challenge of AI Adoption with Gleb Tsipursky #310

Episode recap:
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Guest Bio:
Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, PhD, is CEO of Disaster Avoidance Experts and a behavioral scientist who helps leaders adopt AI without overpaying or alienating their people. Author of seven books, his work appears in Harvard Business Review, Fortune, and Forbes. He lives in Columbus, Ohio.
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Show Notes
Quotes:
- The one thing to remember is it’s not about the technology; it’s about the psychology.
- Realistically, the people who will be effective and productive in the company are the ones using AI tools.
- People need to be much more engaged, but you need to address their emotions.
Takeaways:
- AI adoption is a people challenge first. Address employees’ fear of job loss, concerns about professional identity, and stigma around using AI, not just the technology.
- Make AI use safe and visible. Involve HR, have leaders model AI use, and create opportunities to share experiments and successes.
- Measure results, not activity. Evaluate both efficiency, such as time saved, and effectiveness, such as the quality of AI-assisted work.
Timestamps:
00:00 The AI Adoption Gap
04:33 Dr. Gleb Tsipursky’s Story
06:31 What Disaster Avoidance Experts Do
07:03 Why AI Adoption Fails
11:27 Three Psychological Blockers
18:09 Addressing Fear of Job Loss
21:50 What Is Shadow AI?
23:50 Making AI Use More Open
26:30 Psychological Safety and Experimentation
27:43 Measuring AI Success
30:51 AI and the Future of Work
32:48 The Human Side of AI Adoption
33:49 Where to Find Dr. Gleb Tsipursky
Conclusion:
Successful AI adoption starts with understanding people, not just deploying technology. Leaders can reduce resistance by addressing fears about job security, professional identity, and the stigma around using AI. Involving HR, modeling transparent AI use, and encouraging safe experimentation can help teams learn together. Measure success by both the time saved and the quality of the work produced. When organizations put people at the center of AI adoption, they are better positioned to grow, innovate, and flourish.
The Book
Links/Resources:
Connect with Dr. Gleb Tsipursky:
Website: http://disasteravoidanceexperts.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-gleb-tsipursky/
Connect with Marcel Schwantes:
Substack: https://marcelschwantes.substack.com/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes/
X: https://x.com/MarcelSchwantes
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MarcelSchwantes1
Instagram: https://instagram.com/marcel.schwantes/
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