McKinsey’s new report on artificial intelligence (AI)should scare people, but not for the reasons they think.
On the surface?
It says AI could technically automate 57% of all U.S. work hours.
That sounds like an automated unemployment apocalypse.
But here’s what the report actually says:
Tasks can be automated.
Human leadership can’t.
And that’s the part most people skip.
AI Isn’t the Threat. Permission-Based Leadership Is.
McKinsey’s research frames the future as a partnership:
humans + agents + robots.
But partnerships only work if someone is capable of leading them.
The biggest constraint on AI’s projected $2.9 trillion impact isn’t the technology.
It’s leaders who can’t make decisions without a meeting, a consensus, or 14 slide decks.
This is where things get uncomfortable:
AI won’t replace disciplined, decisive, clear leaders.
It’ll expose the ones who’ve been hiding behind process.
You know the type:
• The “I need more data” people
• The “let’s align next week” crowd
• The folks addicted to dashboards, trackers, and buzzwords
Their cover is gone.
The Future Belongs to Operators, Not Observers
McKinsey’s research reinforces what you already know from the field:
AI is powerful, but direction still comes from humans.
Shaping systems still requires judgment.
Executing under pressure still requires guts.
In other words:
AI can accelerate your team.
It can’t save you from weak leadership.
The organizations that win in the next decade will be the ones led by people who know how to:
• Make decisions when the picture is incomplete
• Set clear priorities
• Cut through noise
• Move fast without breaking trust
• Stop waiting for permission
• Actually GSD
This is where Rebel Leaders thrive.
The Threat Isn’t Automation — It’s Complacency
People shouldn’t fear AI.
They should fear becoming replaceable because they never learned to lead without a safety net.
McKinsey isn’t saying “don’t worry.”
They’re saying, “Get ready.”
And readiness isn’t theory.
It’s discipline, clarity, and execution.
Exactly what Rebel Leaders GSD is built to teach.
Book drops December 24. Not the best time for a book release, but it’s outside of my control.
If you want to lead instead of get led by the algorithm, order Rebel Leaders GSD. Available on Amazon.
So what inspired writing Rebel Leaders GSD…check it ou: Bash the Brave