Radar – by nexxworks: Leadership in a Disclaimer Society

Artificial intelligence is moving faster than most of us can follow. But the bigger change is not only about technology. It is about how people trust what they see and hear and how leaders guide their teams when that trust is fragile.

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In this episode, Peter Hinssen, Pascal Coppens and Steven Van Belleghem shared stories that show why leadership now needs a new kind of attention.

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When Every Truth Needs Proof

After a keynote in Berlin, Pascal was surprised when several people asked if his videos from China were AI generated. The videos were real, yet the audience doubted them.

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This is what Pascal calls a disclaimer society—a world where people want proof before they believe anything.

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For leaders this means trust is no longer automatic. It must be earned and shown. You cannot just share results. You also need to explain how you got them and be open about your sources. When trust has to be proven every day, the role of a leader changes.

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Innovation Has Lost Its Edge

Peter referred to Palantir’s Alex Karp, who argues that meaningful technological breakthroughs have barely moved since the 1970s—except for artificial intelligence.

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This is a bold challenge to the story many organisations tell themselves about progress. Executives who pride themselves on “digital transformation” need to pause and ask: are we simply making life more convenient or are we creating real breakthroughs that shape the future?

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Leadership today means directing AI toward problems that matter—healthcare, climate, education, and other global challenges. Convenience is not enough. True progress demands that we put our best talent and capital behind ideas that raise society as a whole.

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The Paradox of Easy Adoption

Steven highlighted research showing that people with little knowledge of AI adopt it fastest and question it least. The sense of magic blinds them to risk.

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This creates a double challenge for leaders. You must encourage the enthusiasm that drives adoption while also teaching critical thinking. Good governance is no longer a quiet back-office process. It has become a frontline leadership skill.

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Teams need clear guidance on when to trust AI output, how to check it and when to slow down. Without that balance, excitement can turn into careless decisions.

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China’s AI+ Masterplan

While Western debates often stall, China has already launched an ambitious AI+ blueprint. The plan aims to weave artificial intelligence into every layer of society by 2035, with adoption targets of 70 percent by 2027 and 90 percent by 2030.

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Whether you admire or criticise the approach, it shows a long-term vision that many Western economies still lack. Leaders who ignore that ambition risk falling behind not because their technology is weaker but because their integration is slower.

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This is a reminder that strategy is not just about the next quarter. It is about preparing entire societies—education, industry and government—for a future shaped by AI.

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Convenience Is Broken—and That Is Opportunity

Even with all the new AI tools, customer satisfaction is falling. Travel and booking platforms still make people work through slow and clumsy steps.

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This gap is an opening for a second wave of digital disruption. Companies that join strong data with advanced AI can raise the bar for what convenience means. Finance has already seen this through players like Revolut. Travel, healthcare and education could be next.

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Leading Forward

Across these stories runs a single message: trust, innovation and adoption are coming together in new ways.

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To lead in a disclaimer society, you must earn belief, direct AI toward meaningful breakthroughs and help people stay both curious and critical.

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For the full discussion and more examples, listen to the September edition of the Radar podcast—a conversation that shows what leadership will need in the years ahead.

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