Reimagining Business in the Age of AI: Terence Mauri on Ethical Innovation and Human-Centred Leadership

Terence Mauri is a globally renowned AI speaker and leadership futurist who challenges conventional thinking and inspires bold action. 

As the founder of Hack Future Lab and a visiting professor at IE Business School, Terence equips leaders with the mindset and tools to thrive in a world of accelerating change, disruption and artificial intelligence. 

Named one of the world’s top 30 management thinkers by Thinkers50, he is a trusted voice for organisations seeking to turn uncertainty into opportunity.

In this exclusive interview, Terence explores the ethical frontiers of AI, the future of leadership in the algorithmic age, and why the next revolution won’t be technological—but deeply human.

Q: With AI now shaping every sector at an unprecedented pace, what do you believe are the most fundamental ways it’s redefining the future of business—and what role should humanity play in this transformation?

Terence Mauri: Change used to happen like a breeze. Now it feels like a Category 5 typhoon. The story of AI is still being written. Will AI be an enabler or an enforcer? Will AI be augmented or automated?

My goal is to ensure not just profit maximisation, but human maximisation. I think the next revolution won’t be technological—it will be more humanity in our leadership.

Q: While AI often makes headlines for automation and efficiency, its potential to drive social good is less explored. In your experience, how can technology—used purposefully—create meaningful human impact?

Terence Mauri: When used ethically and inclusively in a purpose-driven way, AI is a force multiplier. It’s a simplifier, it’s a clarifier, it’s an enabler.

I recently worked with an entrepreneur who’s just 18 years old. She’s created an app called Timeless that helps those with Alzheimer’s. It uses geotagging and facial recognition to help users stay connected—and reconnected—with their families and loved ones.

This is a great example of how we can use AI to elevate what makes us more human. And that’s what I’m passionate about—humane AI. AI that helps us to flourish as humans.

Q: As more businesses move to embed AI within their operations, concerns around safety, bias, and misuse are growing. How should leaders build ethics into the foundation of their AI strategies?

Terence Mauri: The writer George Orwell would have relished these times. We have meme warfare, digital skulduggery, cybercrime. According to HAT Future Lab, cybercrime alone will cost over $11 trillion a year by 2027.

What this means for leaders today is that we need to prioritise ethics alongside growth and profits. Ethics should be your North Star. Every organisation is operating at the edge of ethics, so having a clear point of view about how we scale ethical, inclusive, transparent AI is a major imperative.

Q: Much of the current AI conversation focuses on risk—but what excites you most about the technology’s capacity to unlock new value and reimagine the business landscape?

Terence Mauri: I think there are two big takeaways for AI right now, for leaders everywhere.

Number one: how do you harness AI to lead the future boldly? Efficiency gains, transformation that is faster, more sustainable, and more inclusive. Lowering costs and augmenting what we do, so humans spend less time on routine, soul-sucking work and more time on high-value, intelligent work.

Takeaway number two, longer term: how can we use and harness AI to redefine and reimagine our business models? These are two exciting tailwinds for leaders to consider and transform into platforms for reimagination.

Q: Some thinkers predict that AI could one day be afforded rights or treated on par with humans. From your perspective, how should we draw the line between advancement and accountability?

Terence Mauri: I think we need an AI constitution for humans. The speed of change is truly breathtaking, and that creates tremendous risk—but also tremendous opportunity.

My number one insight today is that we always overestimate the risk of doing something new—like working alongside AI—but we always underestimate the risk of standing still. In a world of AI, not taking a risk is a risk.

Q: Strong AI governance is now a global priority—but gaps still remain. What are the core governance challenges you believe leaders need to address urgently?

Terence Mauri: There are three big issues associated with AI governance.

• Number one is market instability.
• Number two is antitrust.
• Number three is data privacy.

For leaders scaling and sustaining an AI-centric future, it’s absolutely imperative to have a shared perspective at board level on what constitutes inclusive, ethical AI.

Q: Many companies are racing to adopt AI to stay competitive—but without sufficient safeguards, public trust is at risk. What are the reputational dangers of irresponsible AI, and how can leaders avoid what you call ‘artificial idiocy’?

Terence Mauri: One of my favourite phrases is from the psychotherapist Esther Perel, who says we should be careful of artificial idiocy. If you think about those two letters—AI—artificial idiocy.

When used intelligently, inclusively and ethically, AI has the potential to elevate our leadership, our organisations, and our societies—for example, speeding up drug discovery.

But when used unethically, without governance, or rushed to market, it has the potential to erode trust in society and create what I call truth decay.

There are three big takeaways we need to think about when considering the future of AI and its impact on digital minds, digital trust, and digital humans: we need truth, transparency, and trust baked into AI models.

The future is still being written—and that excites me and creates opportunity. But we should not overlook the risks associated.

This exclusive interview with Terence Mauri was conducted by Mark Matthews.

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