In The AI-Savvy Leader, David De Cremer delivers a thoughtful, timely, and practical playbook for executives wrestling with one of the most consequential leadership challenges of our era: how to lead organizations through the disruptive rise of artificial intelligence. Rather than presenting AI as a mysterious technical puzzle, De Cremer insists that leaders must reclaim control of AI adoption by anchoring it to business purpose, human capability, and enduring leadership skills. This review unpacks his core thesis, evaluates the book’s strengths and limitations, and explains why this is becoming required reading for leaders intent on shaping, not just surviving, the AI age.
The Central Argument: Leadership, Not Engineering
De Cremer’s central premise is deceptively simple: the success or failure of AI initiatives will not be determined by the sophistication of the algorithms, but by the quality of leadership guiding their integration into organizational life. He argues that too many organizations have allowed technological imperatives to outpace leadership involvement—ceding strategic decision-making to technologists or vendors while executives retreat into the familiar comfort of delegation. The result is a spate of AI projects that fail to deliver value, stall in implementation, or erode trust and morale among employees.
De Cremer frames this challenge as fundamentally one of change management, not code. He emphasizes that leaders are uniquely positioned—not because they must become data scientists, but because they hold the organizational perspective required to ask the right questions: What problem are we trying to solve? How does this align with our mission? Who benefits, and how do we ensure fairness and inclusion?
This perspective resonates with a recurring theme throughout the book: technology itself does not create strategy; strategy creates technology that matters.
Nine Actions of an AI-Savvy Leader
The heart of the book is its nine leadership actions that De Cremer believes distinguish successful AI adoption from costly failures. While the author deliberately avoids framing these as “AI tricks,” he does show how time-tested leadership disciplines must be adapted for the AI era. These nine actions are the backbone of the book, and each chapter walks readers through both the why and the how for putting them into practice. The nine actions include:
- Get to Know AI: Leaders don’t need to code, but they must grasp AI’s basic workings, potential, and limits.
- Purpose-Driven Inquiry: Use organizational purpose as the lens for asking meaningful questions about where AI will add value.
- Inclusive Human-Plus-AI Collaboration: AI should augment people—not replace them—so leaders must foster environments where humans and machines work together.
- Flatten Communication: Break silos and encourage open conversations between technical and business teams.
- Visionary Leadership: Provide a clear narrative of how AI supports strategic goals.
- Stakeholder Sensitivity: Consider how AI affects employees, customers, partners, and society.
- Human-Centered Deployment: Focus on enhancing work meaningfulness and capability.
- Job Augmentation Over Automation: Prioritize AI’s capacity to elevate human roles.
- Soft Skills as “New Hard Skills”: Leaders must deepen their empathy, communication, and change management capabilities.
Human-Centered, Not Hype-Driven
A major strength of The AI-Savvy Leader is its insistence that AI should serve people, not replace them. De Cremer repeatedly warns against the “AI as cost-cutting machine” mentality that dominates much corporate discourse. He contrasts two opposing mental models: one where AI is a cheap substitute for human labor, and another where it is a tool to amplify human insight and creativity. He advocates firmly for the latter, grounded in purpose and strategy—not in fear, hype, or competitiveness alone.
This human-plus-AI framework is one of the book’s most enduring takeaways. It reframes AI from being a technological inevitability to being a leadership opportunity—something that can elevate organizational potential if directed with clarity and care.
Practicality and Readability
De Cremer’s writing is concise and rooted in real-world experience. He avoids deep dives into machine learning mechanics, instead translating abstract concepts into accessible leadership guidance. The nine actions are supported by practical examples, illustrative stories, and reflection prompts that invite leaders to evaluate their own organizational readiness and personal mindset.
Unlike overly technical AI books that presume a high level of technological literacy, this book is intentionally leadership-first. That makes it both accessible for seasoned executives and useful as a primer for emerging leaders.
Where the Book Falls Short
Despite its many strengths, The AI-Savvy Leader has limitations worth noting.
1. Light on Technical Nuance.
Some readers may find the treatment of AI’s technical boundaries more aspirational than rigorous. While the author’s goal is leadership insight, a deeper engagement with the ethical and governance complexities of AI—such as data bias, regulatory constraints, and algorithmic transparency—would have strengthened the work’s practical depth.
2. Idealism vs Reality.
De Cremer’s recommendations for flattening communication and fostering inclusive human-AI interactions hinge on organizational cultures that many leaders will struggle to create in legacy environments. The book offers less on how to overcome entrenched resistance, politics, and incentive misalignments that derail transformation.
3. Case Study Variety.
Though enriched by examples, the book could benefit from a broader mix of case studies across industries beyond the typical tech and corporate elites. A more diverse set of organizational contexts—public sector, non-profit, small business—would broaden its applicability.
These critiques, however, do not diminish the book’s core value; rather, they highlight opportunities for complementary reading and continued leadership development.
Final Evaluation: A Leadership Compass for the AI Era
The AI-Savvy Leader is not the definitive technical roadmap to AI implementation. Instead, it is a leadership compass for navigating the organizational and human challenges that accompany intelligent technologies. De Cremer’s insistence that leadership, not tech alone, determines AI success is both timely and essential. mitpressbookstore
For executives, board members, and senior managers, this book offers a structured framework to reflect on their role in shaping the future of work. It is both a call to action and a practical guide for bridging the divide between hype and harnessing value. As AI continues to rewrite organizational boundaries, the principles outlined here will remain relevant for any leader committed to guiding people, not just machines, into the future.
Recommendation:
📌 The AI-Savvy Leader is strongly recommended for business leaders seeking a human-centered leadership playbook for AI adoption. It’s particularly valuable for those charged with strategic transformation, culture change, or organizational learning.
Who Will Benefit Most:
✔ CEOs & executives
✔ HR & transformation leaders
✔ Board members
✔ Emerging leaders preparing for AI-influenced roles
If the #1 challenge of the next decade is not what AI can do, but who leads while it does it, De Cremer’s book may be the most important leadership guide published this year.
