Navigating Productivity, Fear and Opportunity
Ray Fleming Ray Fleming

Navigating Productivity, Fear and Opportunity

This blog post explores the complex relationship between generative AI and workplace transformation, examining how workers simultaneously fear job displacement and actively embrace AI to enhance productivity. Drawing on recent research from Stanford and Australia's Finance Sector Union, it highlights the mismatch between organisational AI strategies and employee preferences. It concludes with actionable insights and recommendations for leaders on aligning their AI approach to ensure empowerment, trust, and mutual benefits within their teams.

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The AI Skills Learning Journey
Ray Fleming Ray Fleming

The AI Skills Learning Journey

Keen to build your generative AI skills but not sure where to begin – or how to help your team do the same? I’ve just updated my AI Skills Learning Journey with a clear, flexible roadmap that covers both free and paid courses, from quick intros to full specialisations.

It’s based on 40+ courses I’ve taken over the last three years, and it maps out a smart route depending on how much time you’ve got and which AI tools you're using. Includes new government-funded options too – worth a look if you want to stay ahead.

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AI in the real world: two new OpenAI guides worth a read
Ray Fleming Ray Fleming

AI in the real world: two new OpenAI guides worth a read

OpenAI recently released two practical guides for organisations using (or thinking about using) AI: one on identifying and scaling use cases, and another on getting AI into enterprise settings. They're both full of real-world lessons, and some of the advice really resonated with me.

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Risk Appetite: Australian vs. US Companies
Ray Fleming Ray Fleming

Risk Appetite: Australian vs. US Companies

Culture around risk and innovation varies not just by industry, but by geography as well. A particularly striking comparison is between Australian companies and their U.S. counterparts. Australian business leaders are often characterised (even by themselves) as more risk-averse and cautious in embracing change, whereas Silicon Valley lore celebrates “fail fast, fail often” as a path to success. These differences in risk appetite can significantly influence AI adoption on either side of the Pacific.

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When Tech Moves Faster Than Culture: Bridging the Gap
Ray Fleming Ray Fleming

When Tech Moves Faster Than Culture: Bridging the Gap

One of the biggest challenges in organisational change today is the mismatch between how fast technology evolves and how fast organisations adapt. We’re living in an age of exponential tech advances – generative AI being a prime example – but organisations (and humans in general) adapt on a more linear, incremental curve. As New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman observed, our ability to adapt has been surpassed by the rate of technological change​. In other words, the tech curve is shooting up like a rocket, while the human organisational curve lags behind. This gap can leave companies perpetually playing catch-up, and it’s a dangerous place to be.

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Driving Change: The Human Side of AI Adoption
Ray Fleming Ray Fleming

Driving Change: The Human Side of AI Adoption

No matter the industry, one universal truth remains: AI adoption is as much about managing change with people as it is about deploying technology. A shiny new AI tool won’t deliver value if employees don’t use it, or worse, actively resist it. That’s where change management comes in. 

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How different sectors approach AI adoption

How different sectors approach AI adoption

How four organisational archetypes – public sector agencies, regulated traditional companies, unregulated traditional companies, and digital-native businesses – each approach AI adoption through the lens of their culture and risk posture.

  • Public Sector: Cautious but Transforming

  • Traditional Regulated Companies: Innovation Under Compliance

  • Traditional Unregulated Companies: Breaking Out of Legacy Mindsets

  • Digital-Native Businesses: Innovating by Default

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Culture Eats Compliance: How Organisational Change Drives AI Adoption

Culture Eats Compliance: How Organisational Change Drives AI Adoption

Adopting artificial intelligence is no longer optional – it’s a business imperative. Yet not all organisations embrace AI at the same pace or in the same way. A nimble tech startup and a government agency operate under very different norms, not because laws force their hand, but because of culture, risk appetite, and approach to change. In fact, even the most advanced AI technology will fall flat if an organisation’s culture isn’t on board.

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