When AI feels like “one more thing,” it’s usually not an AI problem. It's a systems problem. Messy workflows + no thinking space + constant reacting→ AI just adds noise. Clarity first. Tools second. Curious to know: does AI feel supportive or overwhelming in your work right now? Maybe we'll find some great solutions in the comments!

From team workflows to national strategy, the real challenge with AI is how we structure thinking — not how fast we deploy tools. This morning, I found myself reading about the Asia Undercurrent Series session on Building & Securing Asia’s AI Future, moderated by Gregory C. Allen, with insights from Kay Firth-Butterfield, Dr. Ayesha Khanna, and Kyoko Yoshinaga — and it made me pause. We often look at AI through two very different lenses: At a global level - Nations are figuring out governance, security, and how to keep up with rapid development. At a team level (where I spend most of my time) - People are figuring out how to make Tuesday feel a little less chaotic. What struck me is how similar the underlying challenge is. Whether it’s a government or a 10-person team, the real bottleneck isn’t AI. It’s the system around it. How decisions are made. How workflows are structured. How people think about what “good work” even looks like. And that’s where the gap usually shows up. When I walk into an organisation to build AI systems, I’m not just dropping tools into their workflow. I’m helping them redesign the invisible architecture, the part that actually determines whether AI becomes an advantage or another shiny thing everyone ignores after three weeks. Today’s session reminded me that responsible AI doesn’t start at the policy level. It starts at the team level. With clarity. With structure. With people who know why they’re using AI, not just how. Asia’s AI future will depend on how intelligently we build systems at the macro level. But a company’s AI future? That starts with whether its people have room to think instead of firefight. If that’s the direction your team wants to grow into, I’m always open to a conversation. Sometimes the shift begins smaller than you’d expect. HMU for a coffee chat to discuss more for all the AI enthusiasts in the room!