Insights

How far is too far when communicating about AI in the workplace?

By Global Gateway Advisors

April 28, 2025

In today’s newsletter, we explore how companies and leaders are talking about the role of AI in the workplace – and how strategic communicators can ensure we keep humans front and center during this period of business transformation and transition.

Plus: Takeaways from the Semafor World Economy Summit in Washington, D.C., and other top events and media moves on our radar.

Shopify CEO: Prioritize AI over humans

A viral memo earlier this month from Shopify CEO Tobias Lütke was clear: “Before asking for more headcount and resources, teams must demonstrate why they cannot get what they want done using Al.”

Many leaders perceive an existential threat to their businesses if AI is not integrated effectively – and quickly.

Lütke demonstrated the extent to which some companies are willing to go to demonstrate their embrace of AI to stay competitive. “AI is a tool of all trades today, and will only grow in importance,” he wrote. “Frankly, I don’t think it’s feasible to opt out of learning the skill of applying AI in your craft.”

What they’re saying: Data, analytics and AI strategy advisor Douglas Laney called the memo “arguably one of the clearest expressions to date of what CEO leadership should look like in the age of AI.”

Go deeper:

  • Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski similarly made waves when he told Bloomberg: “I am of the opinion that AI can already do all of the jobs that we, as humans, do. It’s just a question about how we apply it and use it.”
  • Fujitsu, a Japanese IT services company with 124,000 employees, has built AI to generate sales leads, respond to IT service tickets, and automate other key tasks. Kotaro Asama, who leads the company’s AI adoption, told The Information that Fujitsu has saved more than 1 million hours of labor over the past year.
  • A recent Vanity Fair headline put it more bluntly: “AI has already come for the interns. You’re probably next.”

But is pitting AI against humans the right communications approach?

The big picture: Workers are already nervous about the impact of AI on their jobs and prospects. Thirty percent of college graduates believe AI has made their degree irrelevant, with the figure rising to 45% among Gen Z, per Indeed. Roughly half of workers are concerned about how AI will affect the future workplace, and 32% believe it will ultimately reduce their job opportunities, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.

CEOs must navigate the situation carefully; with employee mental health already declining – and depression and anxiety costing the global economy $1 trillion annually in lost productivity – how they handle it will be critical to retaining and attracting top talent.

Humans and AI, not humans or AI, provides a more inclusive approach – and one backed by research. A recent report from Indeed identified and assessed more than 2,800 unique work skills, finding that none are “very likely” to be replaced by AI. Instead, AI will take on a supporting role, handling modest problems and repetitive tasks, allowing employees to focus on more important things, like higher-level decision-making and creativity.

  • “We have 300 million plus job seekers coming to Indeed every month … and there’s a lot of anxiety [about whether] AI is going to help or hurt jobs,” Indeed CEO Chris Hyams said, noting that some of the concern was unfounded. “AI can do math very well. It can’t draw an IV very well.”
  • Human skills that AI can’t replicate, such as empathy, compassion, decision-making, teamwork, curiosity, adaptability and collaboration, will remain highly valued in the workplace.

What’s next: Leaders should emphasize how AI reduces administrative tasks, freeing teams to focus on strategic and empathetic work – helping ease fears, build support, and show employees how AI can enhance their skills and career growth, rather than replace them.

“We envision AI as a transparent and collaborative partner that works alongside hiring teams with clear logic, human oversight, and accountability, ensuring every decision is fair and effective,” Prem Kumar, CEO and co-founder of AI recruiting tech company Humanly, said.

  • “Providing effective training is crucial – not just an initial session, but ongoing Q&A and refreshers,” Kate Field, global head of human and social sustainability at BSI, said. “Designating some workers as ‘champions’ of the new technology, with additional training, can also be highly effective.”

The bottom line: How leaders talk about AI in the workplace matters. In rightfully advocating for the swift adoption of AI by their teams, employers should prioritize transparency, create space for questions and feedback, and continuously reinforce the value of current and prospective (human) employees in capturing the opportunity.

Being open about AI’s role and its impact builds trust and helps employees feel secure. Setting a digital worker-first mentality can have significant impacts on culture and engagement.

  • KPMG CEO Paul Knopp spoke about the rise of AI at Semafor’s World Economy Summit, noting: “The nature of the jobs and activities people will be doing is becoming less clear,” but “over the long term, it’s going to promote job growth.”

Events update

Semafor World Economy Summit (Washington, D.C.)
Semafor held its third annual World Economy Summit event last week, timed with IMF and World Bank meetings. The three-day conference centered on six theme tracks, featuring a stellar line up of 150+ Fortune 500 CEOs, numerous Trump administration Cabinet members, and other U.S. and European government officials in 1:1 and 2:1 short session formats. And behind the scenes: a separate CEO track and bilateral meetings for leaders on site.

A gala at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery made the summit even more memorable, leading into White House Correspondents Dinner weekend festivities. The event, which will also appear in a Fall format, is on our must-attend list going forward.

Notable takeaways:

  • Citadel CEO Ken Griffin on the implications of new tariffs: “The United States is more than just a nation. It’s a brand. It can be a lifetime to repair the damage that has been done.”
  • General Motors CEO Mary Barra, also on tariff policy: “I need clarity, and then I need consistency. Everything can be moved over time, but we also have to do it effectively, and we have to do it in a manner where we’re still competitive globally.”
  • Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi on consumer sentiment: “When I watch CNBC or when you read the paper, certainly the prospective news is not great. But when we look at our business, the day-to-day habits of consumers around the world look pretty consistent to what we’ve seen for the past couple of years.”

On deck:

Fortune Workplace Innovation Summit (May 19-20, Dana Point, CA)

The inaugural Workplace Innovation Summit will “imagine, debate, and design the bold future of work,” Fortune announced this week. Our client Indeed is the event’s founding partner. We’ll be on site as Fortune facilitates discussions on AI and HR tech, company culture, upskilling and reskilling, diversity and inclusion and more. Indeed CEO Chris Hyams, Indeed Chief People & Sustainability Officer LaFawn Davis, and Glassdoor CEO Christian Sutherland-Wong will speak alongside leaders from companies including OpenAI, IBM and Nike.

The Wall Street Journal’s Future of Everything (May 28-29, NYC)
Some of the biggest newsmakers will discuss work, wealth and health in an AI-enabled future. Speakers include Sandra Douglass Morgan, president, Las Vegas Raiders; Scott Kirby, CEO, United Airlines; Alexis Ohanian, founder, Seven Seven Six and co-founder, Reddit; Celine Halioua, founder and CEO, Loyal; and George Arison, CEO, Grindr. Request a ticket.

To keep up with what’s ahead, visit Global Gateway Advisors’ event tracker, updated weekly.

Media news + moves

What we’re reading and watching:

  • Independent journalists prioritize community building: Recently, a wave of journalists from across the spectrum have gone independent, including Bari Weiss’ Free Press (generating $10 million+ annually in subscription revenue), Oliver Darcy’s Status newsletter (we’re big fans) and Jim Acosta’s The Jim Acosta Show, with many finding a new home on Substack. Like communication and brand teams, they face the challenge of standing out in the market and establishing a strong reputation. Their solution focuses on creating hyper-engaged communities, a strategy experts say will be crucial as AI reshapes news.
  • Speaking of… The Washington Post partners with OpenAI: The newspaper’s content – summaries, quotes and links to original reporting – will now show up in ChatGPT searches. The Post joins 20 other news publishers that have agreements with OpenAI, including The Atlantic and The Financial Times.
  • 60 Minutes’ executive producer quits: Bill Owens resigned from the news program, blaming a loss of journalistic independence. He told his staff, “it has become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it, to make independent decisions based on what was right for 60 Minutes, right for the audience.” This comes amid a significant ratings drop for CBS Evening News, the network’s flagship show, following this year’s format overhaul led by Owens, as well as a pending lawsuit filed by President Trump against CBS and Paramount.
  • CNN announces subscription rollout: CNN CEO Mark Thompson is investing in a suite of paid products. “Our entire industry is going through a revolution,” he said. The first, launching later this year, will be a “non-news digital product” that may still be heavy on information.
  • “Corner Office” returns: The New York Times brought back its popular column where CEOs are interviewed about their roles, helmed by business reporter Jordyn Holman.
  • Instagram launches video creation app: Edits, which offers users features like green screen replacement and subject cutouts, is notably similar to CapCut, from TikTok owner ByteDance.
  • More social media?: OpenAI is developing a social network similar to X, according to those familiar with the project.
  • Where are C-suite execs vacationing? That’s the subject of a new travel series in Fortune. Interested in sharing? Reach out to reporter Orianna Rosa Royle.

Media moves:

  • Zach Goldfarb was appointed the new editor of a Washington Posteditorial team that merges technology, business, climate, health and science to focus on the forces shaping the future. As part of the paper’s reorganization, business editor Lori Montgomery will now oversee politics and government coverage.
  • Kylie Robison is joining WIRED as senior correspondent covering the business of AI. She’s also launching a newsletter focused on scoops and exclusive reporting around major players in AI. Details coming soon.
  • The Information hired Miles Kruppa to cover artificial intelligence and the money flowing into the technology.
  • POLITICO’s chief Washington correspondent Ryan Lizzo left the organization, saying that “their style of political coverage is not meeting the unprecedented moment of democratic peril we are facing.” He launched a new Substack newsletter called Telos.
  • Gizmodo hired Raymond Wong as senior editor of consumer tech.
  • The National hired Manus Cranny as geo-economics editor, based in the UAE.
  • The New York Times business reporter Nico Grant has left the organization.
  • Bloomberg reporter Sarah McBride is leaving her role to become a Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT.
  • Media and advertising reporter Ryan Barwick is leaving Morning Brew.