The World Economic Forum has predicted that the workplace is set to become half-human, half-digital by the middle of the decade. How worried should we be? Ben Laker, Professor of Leadership, gives his, mostly positive, perspective on the prediction.
Listen to the first episode of our the Leading Edge podcast to hear him discuss these topics:
- Robots with names and birthdays that are celebrated. Could one soon be your manager?
- The use of artificial intelligence increasing in the workplace. Are the losers in the middle?
- Performance management or performance achievement?
Discover Ben’s answers in the first episode of the Leading Edge:
Ben’s prediction for 2030 is ”Leadership in its current form will be becoming obsolete because we will not need it. Will we see the rise in the importance of management?” He later added, “COVID doesn’t change my prediction, or that of the World Economic Forum.”

“The age of a ‘job description’ is dying because once it’s written down, it’s out of date. And we don’t necessarily want people to just repeat the same job.” – Ben Laker
About the host
Thomas Mason is a BBC reporter with a specialist interest in tech, business and politics. Thomas has a background as a project manager and marketing consultant, and also writes leadership and management articles for LinkedIn Influencers.
Follow the Leading Edge podcast series
This recording was made between 28.02.20 and 05.03.20.