[Video] The Good Future of AI : An Interview with Futurist Gerd Leonhard

In this Siemens Xcelerator Industry Thought Leader interview, futurist Gerd Leonhard explores the accelerating tension between technological progress and human values, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence, industrial innovation, and leadership responsibility.

Leonhard argues that AI should be understood first and foremost as a tool for augmentation, not replacement. While automation has a role, he cautions that its impact is often overstated. The real opportunity lies in using AI to enhance human capabilities—through cognition, augmentation, and virtualization—rather than pursuing a narrow cost-cutting agenda that removes people from the system entirely. Efforts to replace human judgment, creativity, and empathy, he warns, lead to brittle organizations and soulless outcomes.