AI is no longer just another workplace technology. It is a general-purpose capability that is beginning to reshape how work is designed, how decisions are made, and how organizations create value.

In this episode of The Future of Less Work, host Nirit Cohen sits down with David Mallon, Chief Futurist and Head of Research for Deloitte’s Human Capital practice, to unpack the biggest insights from the 2026 Deloitte Global Human Capital Trends report.  The conversation explores why this moment of AI adoption is fundamentally different from past technology shifts. Unlike earlier tools that automated tasks, generative AI is entering knowledge work itself, acting as collaborator, analyst, and decision partner. That shift forces organizations to rethink how humans and machines work together and how leadership, productivity, and expertise evolve in an AI-enabled workplace.

Nirit and David discuss why many companies are approaching AI through a narrow productivity lens, focusing on efficiency rather than redesigning work around human-machine collaboration. They examine the growing need for leaders to intentionally design how people interact with AI systems, orchestrate work across humans and intelligent tools, and rethink performance when technology can dramatically amplify individual output.

The episode also explores a deeper challenge: how workers develop expertise when AI increasingly performs the early tasks that traditionally built experience. As organizations move faster to adopt AI, leaders must decide how to balance productivity, learning, and human judgment in a workplace where machines are part of the team.

If you’re trying to understand what AI really means for organizations—not just tools, but the design of work itself—this conversation looks at the choices leaders must make as human and machine collaboration becomes the new operating model of work.

Want to dive deeper into this topic? Read Nirit’s Forbes article, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"⁠⁠⁠⁠AI Is Creating Culture Debt In Organizations⁠⁠", to explore these ideas further.  

https://youtu.be/1KJeMLNXyZE

Guest Information:

David Mallon, a managing director at Deloitte Consulting LLP, is the head of research and chief futurist for Human Capital in the United States. With more than 25 years of experience in human capital, he helps organizations sense, analyze, and act with purpose. Mallon has been a key contributor to Deloitte’s Global Human Capital Trends study since its inception and leads Insights2Action—Deloitte’s Human Capital decision intelligence capability. 

Links: 

2026 Human Capital Trends report: https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/topics/talent/human-capital-trends.html

Forbes article on Culture Debt: https://www.forbes.com/sites/niritcohen/2026/03/04/ai-is-creating-culture-debt-in-organizations/

Chapters:

00:00 — What Is the Deloitte 2026 Human Capital Trends Report About?
01:29 — Why Is AI Different From Previous Technology Revolutions?
05:46 — Will AI Replace Human Thinking or Augment It?
10:03 — How Will Workers Build Experience If AI Does the Work?
13:28 — How Should Humans and AI Work Together at Work?
17:49 — Are Companies Using AI Only for Productivity Gains?
21:09 — What Must Change in Leadership for the AI Era?
23:09 — What Surprised Researchers in the 2026 Human Capital Trends Report?
24:01 — What Is Culture Debt and Why Should Leaders Care?
26:57 — Are Executives Trusting AI Decisions Too Much?
27:47 — What Is the Most Important Leadership Insight About AI?
28:54 — How Should Organizations Design Human–AI Collaboration?
31:46 — What Question Should Leaders Ask About the Future of Work?