Artificial Instinct: What Sci-Fi Teaches Us About Leading with AI

In this special one-off episode of The Leadership Multiverse, Ellen is joined by Major Sam McEvoy, Royal Corps of Signals, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the idea of leadership, in science fiction and in real life.

From Star Trek’s M-5 and Data to The Avengers’ Ultron and Interstellar’s TARS, Ellen and Sam unpack what these fictional AIs reveal about intuition, ethics, and decision-making. They discuss the line between automation and authority, why humans remain essential in moments of moral choice, and how AI might one day become not just a tool but a teammate.

It’s a fascinating conversation about logic, leadership, and the limits of programming, from warp speed to real-world command.