David Dean is an author, speaker, and business AI realist who explores how artificial intelligence reshapes work, judgment, and accountability in organizations. Rather than focusing on AI capabilities, he examines the human elements that remain essential: how people navigate uncertainty, where accountability lies when AI assists decisions, and what holds organizations together when technology accelerates faster than clarity. His philosophy is grounded in a simple truth: AI doesn't understand confidence, risk, or consequence—people do, and that's why they still matter.

Mentioned on the Show

• Learn more about David Dean on his website: https://www.davidchristopherdean.com/
• Get David’s book, An Inbox Between Us on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0ins9UC9
• Learn some easy AI strategies for work from Jeff Su on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeffSu or on his website: https://www.jeffsu.org/ai/

Timestamps

(00:00:00) – Introducing David Dean.

(00:02:35) — What is David's background and how did he get interested in the systems we find at work?

(00:04:36) — What are the “hidden systems” operating in our workplaces?

(00:09:42) — How does email influence our systems at work?

(00:14:05) — What are some real-life examples of discovering how we work?

(00:24:12) — What is system/process drift?

(00:36:21) — What makes the biggest difference in driving adoption of new processes and ways of working?

(00:43:04) — What is the premise of the book, The Inbox Between Us? 

(00:45:43) — Final thoughts about AI coming into our workplaces.