The Other AI

This week marks the beginning of my final class before I complete my master’s degree in Positive Organizational Development—a journey I started over seven years ago when I was newly pregnant with my daughter. A lot has changed since then, and the pace of change only seems to accelerate with each passing day.

One of the biggest shifts? The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI). When I first enrolled in my program, AI was barely on my radar. Now, it dominates conversations in academia, the private sector, and government, sparking heated debates about its impact. Depending on who you ask, AI is either a doomsday prophecy—the sky is falling!—or the key to unlocking unprecedented innovation.

Reactions in my circles are mixed. Some are exhilarated by the possibilities; others are quietly panicking. Will AI make my job obsolete? Is automation taking over? How do we keep up without being left behind? Not exactly the kinds of questions that spark peace, love, and joy.

Here’s the thing: I’m not usually the first to hop on a tech bandwagon. (Confession: I still don’t have a Netflix subscription, and my iPhone is practically vintage.) But even I’ve seen how AI can make a difference—it’s been a thought partner, a marketing copy editor, and an efficiency machine in my work. I’m not anti-AI.

But I am pro-human. And when the conversation shifts toward questions that feel like they put our humanity on the line, my radar goes up.

When I think about AI, my first thought isn’t artificial intelligence—it’s another “AI” I fell in love with over a decade ago: appreciative inquiry. This transformative tool, developed by David Cooperrider and Suresh Srivastva at Case Western in the 1980s, reshaped the field of organizational development.

Its premise is simple yet powerful: what we focus on grows. In other words, what we appreciate, appreciates.

At its heart, appreciative inquiry flips the script from dissecting problems to amplifying strengths.

Instead of “What went wrong?” it asks, “What’s working well, and how can we build on that?”

Think about how much more energizing it feels to spend a day exploring what’s thriving and how to amplify it, versus slogging through problem analysis. I know which meeting I’d rather be in.

As a leadership coach and organizational development consultant, I’ve seen firsthand how the questions we ask shape our focus, energy, and outcomes. They’re not just questions—they’re fateful.

And it was this strength-based approach that drew me to Champlain College to complete my master’s since it’s one of the few organizational development programs centered around the tenets of Appreciative Inquiry.

So, as we stand on the edge of AI’s brave new world, what if we approached it with more than just technological savvy? What if we embraced both the potential of innovation and the power of positive inquiry? What if we chose to ask better questions—ones that help us create the future we truly want, not just the one we fear?

Because if AI is here to stay, the real challenge isn’t just keeping up with machines—it’s ensuring we don’t lose what makes us human. Creativity. Empathy. Connection.

The world doesn’t just need more efficiency. It needs us—fully present, fully engaged, and boldly shaping the future we want to see.

What do you think? How are you navigating AI’s impact in your work and life? Let’s start the conversation.

For the world needs who we were made to be.