Artificial Intelligence and the Role of Leadership

A future artificial intelligence (AI) leadership position will likely include a new follower, the AI machine. The continued rise in retired‐aged individuals illustrates the need to replace a traditional workforce with alternatives. Robots tend to be non‐functional without leaders. With this new position, AI leaders will engage in processes that focus on leading the programmers of the AI machine as well as influencing decisions made by AI machines post‐programming. Communication standards should be set for both the human and machine members. It is unclear if this new position will be referred to as leadership or management, but standards should be in place for proper supervision of these machines. Leadership research has found that behaviors such as charismatic influences and relationship building are important for leading humans. AI leadership may require adjustments to current influences used for humans. Building relationships with AI machines is expected to be altered with greater focus needed on ethical and moral mentoring. Such a focus may utilize top‐down and bottom‐up roboethics, with decreased focus on getting machine followers to feel part of an in‐group. The current paper provides ideas for leading teams of AI machines and their programmers.