367: Inside the Tech Humanist Playbook: Kate O’Neill on AI, Purpose, and Meaningful Work

Kate O’Neill is a leading voice on AI and tech humanism, known for helping organizations build more meaningful, human-centered futures. She has been featured by outlets like BBC, NPR, and NBC, and serves on the United Nations AI advisory board. A CX Hall of Fame inductee and award-winning entrepreneur, Kate brings a unique blend of optimism and realism to conversations about AI, data, and the future of work. Her latest book, What Matters Next, explores how to make human-friendly tech decisions.

In this conversation we discussed:

• How tech humanism explains the relationship between people, technology, and business, and how leaders can design AI systems that strengthen the alignment
• Why humans project intelligence and agency onto AI tools, and what it takes to build healthy, intentional habits around emerging technologies
• Practical ways workers can use AI to elevate their roles rather than fear automation
• The role of leadership in creating psychologically safe environments where employees can openly experiment with AI tools
• The risk of designing systems that lead to “automated bureaucracy,” and how organizations can embed meaning into automated experiences at scale
• Why meaning and purpose remain uniquely human, and how future workplaces can evolve by pairing human judgment with increasingly capable AI systems

Resources:

• Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work Newsletter
• Connect with Kate on LinkedIn or at KO Insights
• AI fun fact article
• On How Unleashing Human Potential with AI