Is your AI strategy just organised chaos? My Forbes view

Forbes 40 Under 40

You might have seen my recent Forbes piece on why people still matter in the age of AI.

What stood out to me while writing it was something I see in almost every SME I work with: we’re investing in tools faster than we’re investing in people.

AI cleans up admin.

But it doesn’t fix trust, clarity, leadership gaps or a messy culture. If those things are broken, tech only makes the dysfunction look organised.

This was the exact point that caught Forbes’ attention.

Not the tech itself, but the human system underneath it.

Because no matter how clever your software is, your team still wants to be treated like adults.

They want clarity.

They want direction.

They want to know who’s responsible for what.

AI can’t give you that.

A quick check: Are you putting tech where people should be?

Scan this list and see what lands:

• You implement tools without changing expectations or behaviours

• You want faster output, but your team still works in confusion

• You expect self-management but haven’t clarified ownership

• You solve communication gaps with platforms, not conversations

• You keep adding tech but turnover keeps rising

If any of these feel too familiar, the problem isn’t your systems. It’s your structure and culture.

Here’s the reality: AI works beautifully when the human foundations are solid. And it magnifies chaos when they’re not.

Where I stand on this (and why Forbes cared)

I’ve been saying this for a while: HR isn’t there to hug people or run admin. It’s there to build a culture that actually works.

One that supports growth, accountability and clear decision-making.

The fact this conversation is now showing up in places like Forbes tells me something important. Businesses are waking up. They’re realising that automation without maturity is just noise. And that people skills are becoming the differentiator again, especially in small teams.

Read the full article below.