About this episode

Greg Twemlow discusses the failure of AI pilots due to reliance on outdated synchronous work models and advocates for asynchronous operations.

Greg Twemlow argues that the overwhelming failure rate of AI pilots stems from a deep-seated reliance on "synchronous" work models established over the last 250 years. He suggests that most executives mistakenly use technology to merely speed up traditional human relays and meetings rather than fundamentally redesigning their firms. This "Great Synchrony Deception" blinds leaders to the potential of asynchronous operations, where machines handle coordination while humans focus on defining problems and owning consequences. Twemlow warns that simply hollowing out middle-management layers to gain efficiency risks destroying the very apprenticeships required to develop future judgment. Ultimately, he advocates for an agentic asynchronous firm that protects the human capacity for deep reflection and accountability. Successful AI adoption requires moving beyond trivial acceleration to embrace a model where truth moves through the organisation without constant human intervention. Read the article. About the Author - Greg Twemlow writes and teaches at the intersection of technology, education, and human judgment. He works with educators and businesses to make AI explainable and…

People in this episode

Host: Greg Twemlow

Topics covered

• AI pilots
• synchronous work models
• asynchronous operations
• executive decision-making
• middle management
• AI adoption

Keywords

• AI pilots
• synchronous work
• asynchronous operations
• executive decisions
• middle management
• AI adoption
• human judgment

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