The Human Edge in the Age of Machines: Why AI Alone Won’t Save Your Company

Artificial intelligence isn't coming - it's already reshaping every industry. In this keynote, Greg Boone challenges one of the biggest misconceptions in business today: that AI alone will transform organizations. Drawing from decades of leading technology transformations and building high-growth businesses, Greg argues that the companies pulling ahead aren't simply adopting better AI—they're building stronger cultures that embrace change, earn trust, and empower people. Originally delivered as the opening keynote at the North Carolina PRSA Strategic Communications Conference, this session explores why competitive advantage in the AI era won't come from technology alone. It will come from leaders who understand how to combine AI with human judgment, curiosity, creativity, and purpose. In this keynote, you'll learn: Why AI amplifies culture—for better or worse The leadership principles behind successful AI adoption Why trust is the missing ingredient in most AI initiatives The human skills that will matter even more in the age of intelligent machines How organizations can move beyond AI experimentation to real transformation Whether you're a CEO, marketer, communicator, or business leader, this keynote offers a practical and optimistic roadmap for leading through one of the biggest technology shifts of our lifetime. The future isn't machine vs. human. It's machine + human. The organizations that recognize that first will be the ones that define what's next.