Managing a human workforce is hard enough without adding robots, cobots and AI assistants into the equation. Experts say the next generation of business leaders will need a fundamentally different approach to manage this new hybrid workforce effectively. David Gethin, senior manager in workforce consulting with PwC Ireland, says AI is redefining leadership by shifting the role from managing activity to designing and aligning how work gets done across humans and intelligent systems. “Leaders are increasingly responsible for translating AI ambition into real value by aligning strategy, skills and workforce experience, while operating in an environment of continuous change,” he explains. “This requires a move away from direct oversight towards orchestrating outcomes, ensuring trust and adoption, and enabling the organisation to scale AI effectively across the workforce.” Accenture’s latest report, Generating Impact: Turning Frontier AI Capabilities into Frontline Productivity and Growth in Ireland, highlights a clear gap between ambition and execution, however. “While AI adoption among employees in Ireland has accelerated significantly, with over one in five now using it daily, only 29 per cent say a major process in their team has been redesigned around it – showing that leadership-led transformation is lagging behind individual use,” explains Audrey O’Mahony, managing director, talent and organisation with Accenture in Ireland. Audrey and organisation, Accenture.