Look Closer

The AI hype train is moving at full throttle. Breathless headlines predict mass layoffs, the end of work as we know it, and a brave new world of intelligent machines. We've been here before. As far back as 1909, JM Keynes predicted that by 2030, technology would mean no-one worked more than 15 hours a week. In 1987, Robert Solow observed "you can see computers everywhere but in the productivity stats". What if this time isn't different? What if we just use AI to do the wrong things faster? What if AI supercharges the organisational bullshit machine? James is joined by Stuart Mills from the University of Leeds to talk about AI, human behaviour, and the risk of organisations solving the wrong problem. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The episode refers to Stuart's new paper Efficient Inefficiency, and you can read more insights on Stuart's blog. James' new book, BS At Work, is out 14th July, and his previous book, the Amazon bestseller Adopting AI, co-authored with Paul Gibbons, is available now.

This episode of The B-Word is all about the c-word... Context. We all like to think that humans are predictable and consistent, but when you look closer, we're often anything but. What can men's underwear teach us about problem solving? What do dating apps tell us about the importance of context? And how does time influence human behaviour? James is joined by Prakash Sharma to learn how context is the key to predicting and influencing human behaviour.

What can Lawrence of Arabia teach us about organisations? Why do organisations persist with so many accepted practices that don't seem to work? What does a more evidence-based approach to organisational change look like? James is joined by Beirem Ben Barrah and Philip Jordanov to talk about practical ways organisations can apply the science of human behaviour. Buy Beirem and Philip's books: The Future of Change Management and The Dynamics of Business Behaviour. Theme Music: "The Great Wide Open" by Kulakovka, via Pixabay.

Why is everyone so excited about AI? What makes AI so different from any previous technology and what does that mean for adopting it? What does AI mean for jobs? What can the Sorcerer's Apprentice and Frankenstein teach us about AI adoption? And what is that cryptic book cover about? In the first episode of a new series of The B-Word, Paul Gibbons and I discuss our new book, "Adopting AI: The People-first Approach", which you can buy now. Theme Music: "The Great Wide Open" by Kulakovka, via Pixabay.

What does the pursuit of Artificial Intelligence tell us about human nature? Can we ever understand AI, or the human brain? Can machines become conscious and should we worry about that possibility? In this episode, James talks to AI researcher and author George Zarkadakis about human intelligence, artificial intelligence, and the future of humanity in a world of super intelligent computers.

Do you remember the time Kim Kardashian and Kanye West disagreed over the colour of a dress? What is "flow" and why does it matter? What can London cabbies teach us about our brains? In this episode James talks to Hilary Scarlett about the neuroscience of change and how we make work work better for our brains.

What can monkeys drinking fruit juice teach us about mental health? How does the placebo effect really work? Are magic mushrooms the silver bullet for treating mental illness? In this episode, James talks to Camilla Nord who leads Cambridge Universitys Mental Health Neuroscience Lab.

Have you ever heard that we only use 10% of our brains? That the brain's right hemisphere is creative and the left hemisphere is logical? Or that we all have a lizard brain, a mammal brain, and a human brain? All of these statements have one thing in common....they're #neurobollocks. In this episode, James talks to UCL Neuroscientist Joe Devlin about the uses and misuses of neuroscience.  

Every organisation, including yours, is in the business of behaviour change. But is your organisation willing to try new ideas, test and learn, experiment? In this episode, James talks to author and behavioural science pioneer Matt Wallaert about Don Draper, Steve Jobs, actuaries, toddlers, and the power of humility.  There's even a bit of David Attenborough thrown in for good measure. 

No. Non. Não. Nein. Nej. Nie. La.  It's a simple word. Why do so many of us find it so difficult to say? In this episode, James is joined by Professor Vanessa Patrick to talk about how to say "no" more effectively, whether you've been asked to work on your birthday, to marry someone live on the big screen at a football game, or indeed to shoot a randy elephant in the jungles of Burma.