Samuel Newman

AI is rapidly transforming organisations, automating complex tasks, enhancing decision-making, and reducing operational risks. However, emerging evidence suggests over-reliance on AI could erode domain expertise and problem-solving skills. Studies indicate that teams using AI without manual verification experience skill degradation, with practitioners losing diagnostic abilities when AI systems automate critical assessments. This session explores how AI should be implemented as a skill enhancer rather than a substitute, ensuring data scientists, analysts, and business specialists maintain hands-on expertise while leveraging AI’s capabilities. We will discuss how to integrate AI while preserving fundamental domain knowledge, the risks of over-reliance leading to deskilling and decision-making dependency, and strategies for upskilling workers to collaborate effectively with AI rather than defer to it. Through real-world case studies, empirical research, and practical frameworks, this session will demonstrate how AI can complement, rather than replace, human expertise.