How AI-Enhanced Talent Is the Growth Engine Most CEOs Overlook
There’s a major misunderstanding among executives about what it means to “do more with AI.”
The conversation too often focuses on automation, cost reduction, or headcount efficiency. But the true value of AI isn’t subtraction , it’s amplification.
AI-enhanced talent , humans empowered with AI capabilities , is the growth engine most CEOs overlook.
According to a recent study by Chicago Booth, companies that invest in AI-assisted work environments see productivity growth of up to 35%, especially in knowledge-intensive roles. Yet, fewer than 40% of companies are redesigning jobs to leverage this.
Let’s break down what AI-enhanced talent looks like , and how to build it.
- Think in Terms of Multiplication, Not Replacement
In AI Culture Transformation, I made the case that culture must shift before technology can scale. This is especially true with talent.
AI isn’t replacing your people. It’s multiplying their ability to think, create, and decide. That means your best employees become exponentially more valuable , not obsolete.
At one life sciences firm I advised, we equipped R&D analysts with generative AI to process literature reviews in 20% of the usual time. Instead of replacing them, it freed them up to design smarter trials faster.
This is the difference between job replacement and job reinvention.
- Redesign Workflows Around Human + AI Roles
AI-enhanced talent requires new workflow models. Ask:
- What can the machine do faster and better?
- Where does the human add unique value?
- How do we bring both into the same workflow, not just the same department?
In Designing Talent Strategies that Align with AI-Driven Growth, I show how top firms are redefining roles , not eliminating them. Product managers now include prompt writing. Customer success includes AI insights in every touchpoint.
Don’t wedge AI into legacy job descriptions. Build forward.
- Upskill for Judgment, Not Just Tool Use
Everyone’s talking about AI upskilling. But too often, it focuses on “how to use this tool” instead of “how to think differently with this capability.”
The most AI-ready teams I work with are trained in:
- Critical thinking with AI outputs
- Data storytelling and decision framing
- Strategic use of generative tools for exploration
In Upskilling for AI: What Your Workforce Actually Needs to Learn, I dive into practical upskilling approaches that go beyond surface-level certifications.
- Make Talent Strategy Your AI Strategy
Companies like Unilever, Schneider Electric, and Walmart have realized that building AI-first talent is a board-level priority.
They’ve made AI fluency part of leadership development. They’ve created internal AI accelerators to test new ideas with existing teams. And they reward business units not for “trying AI” but for delivering outcomes with it.
At one shipping firm, managers were given access to an AI-powered decision assistant. Within 3 months, productivity and forecast accuracy increased by over 20% , without hiring a single new analyst.
This is what the future of growth looks like: smart people, using smarter tools, focused on outcomes.
Final Thought
AI-enhanced talent isn’t a side effect of transformation. It is the transformation.
Stop thinking about automation as the finish line. Start thinking about amplification as your strategy.
If you’re ready to activate growth through talent , not tech alone , start with these two guides: Upskilling for AI and AI Career Pathways.
Mahesh M. Thakur
AI & Leadership Advisor | CEO, Decisive AI
Connect on LinkedIn | MaheshMThakur.com
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