Here's a thought that might surprise you. In a world obsessed with artificial intelligence, the most important intelligence isn't artificial at all. It's yours.
I've just finished training the internal communications team at the Office for National Statistics. And I left them with something that might sound strange coming from a tech futurist: the human psychology is more important than the AI technology. It always has been.
We're Not in Kansas Anymore
Let me be blunt. We are living through the Fifth Industrial Revolution. This isn't hyperbole or marketing speak. It's the reality of our moment. The printing press took decades to change society. ChatGPT reached 100 million users in 72 days. The latest version? 72 hours.
And if that doesn't make you sit up, consider this: 78% of organisations now use AI in some form. Yet only 26% have developed the capabilities to generate real value from it. There's a gap here. A massive, gaping chasm between adoption and transformation.
That gap? That's where you come in.
The Fear is Real (But Misplaced)
I won't pretend the anxiety isn't justified. 7 in 10 Americans fear AI will take their jobs. In the UK, 26% of workers cite job losses as their greatest AI concern. When surveys show that interpreters, translators, proofreaders, and technical writers face the highest displacement risk, it's natural for internal communicators to feel a chill.
But here's what the headlines miss. Boston Consulting Group found that successful AI transformations allocate 70% of their resources to people and processes. Not algorithms. Not technology. People. The organisations winning at AI aren't the ones with the best tools. They're the ones with the best communicators.
The Four Intelligences You Need
In my training sessions, I talk about four intelligences that matter now more than ever.
Artificial Intelligence is the obvious one. The Scarecrow looking for a brain. AI can make you 40 to 70% more productive on certain tasks. One housing association I did my training day in using AI for their internal comms team... created 12 reusable prompts and saved two thirds of their time on content creation. That's not theoretical. That's real.
Emotional Intelligence is the Tin Man seeking a heart. And here's something that should shake every leader: AI chatbots in healthcare settings are now rated higher than human doctors for empathy. Not because AI is better at caring, but because it has infinite patience. If a machine can outperform humans on emotional connection, imagine what happens when emotionally intelligent humans wield these tools.
Independent Intelligence is the Cowardly Lion finding courage. It's about having the bravery to experiment, to try one new prompt this week, to question whether your current approach still serves you.
Organisational Intelligence is understanding your company culture. Does your workplace allow innovation? Does it let people speak up? The wizard in this story isn't AI policy. It's the culture that either enables or blocks transformation.
You Are Toto
In the Wizard of Oz, everyone focuses on Dorothy. But the real hero? The small, yappy dog who pulls back the curtain. Who reveals the truth behind the illusion.
That's internal comms.
You are Toto. You reveal what's going on. You help people understand change before it overwhelms them. You translate corporate speak into human language. And in this revolution, that role becomes not just important but essential.
The organisations that thrive won't be the ones with the biggest AI budgets. They'll be the ones whose internal communicators help their workforce understand, adapt, and ultimately embrace this transformation.
Your Next Steps
Stop waiting for permission. Start today.
Try one new prompt this week (if you need training on AI then be in touch)
Before every AI task, ask yourself: what data am I feeding this?
Notice your courage. Identify one low value task AI could remove from your plate.
And perhaps most importantly, tell a leader what you're learning. How you shape how your organisation sees AI will determine what happens next.
Because here's the truth I shared with the ONS team, borrowed from Glinda the Good Witch: you've had the power all along.
You already have the ruby slippers. You just need to click them together.
The future of work isn't what you think. It's not what you fear. It's what you love. And if you love communication, if you love helping people navigate complexity, if you love being the person who makes sense of chaos... then this revolution was made for you.
The only question is: what would you do if you already had everything you needed?
About Dan Sodergren (pictured above...)
Keynote speaker, professional speaker, Ted X talker, serial tech startup founder, ex marketing agency owner, HR tech co founder, digital trainer, and now author and media spokesperson Dan Sodergren’s main area of interest is the future of work, technology, data and AI. And in his spare time Dan is a digital marketing and technology (and now AI) expert for TV shows and the BBC and countless radio shows.
Occasionally donning the cape of consumer champion on shows like BBC WatchDog, the One Show and RipOffBritain and being a marketing tech specialist for SuperShoppers and RealFakeAndUnknown and BBC Breakfast.
He is also a host and guest on podcasts and webinars speaking as a tech futurist. And a remote reporter / content creator for tech companies at tech events and shows.
His main interest is in the future. Be that the future of marketing, or the future or work or how AI and technology will change the world for the better as part of the #FifthIndustrialRevolution. Find out more about him here bit.ly/DanSodergren
Sources and Statistics:
Stanford AI Index 2025: 78% of organisations used AI in 2024
BCG Research 2024: Only 26% of companies have developed AI capabilities to generate tangible value; successful transformations allocate 70% of resources to people and processes
Reuters/Ipsos 2025: 70% of Americans fear AI job loss
Acas/YouGov 2025: 26% of UK workers cite job losses as greatest AI concern
McKinsey Global Institute: Generative AI expected to drive $1.3 trillion in global economic impact annually by 2030
World Economic Forum: 97 million jobs projected to be created by AI, 85 million displaced (net gain of 12 million)
Grant Thornton 2024: 44% of US employees report AI incorporated into job function in past 12 months
Synthesia 2025: 46% of business owners use AI for internal communications
Further Reading:
Will AI Make Internal Comms More “Human” Than Humans? By Dan Sodergren and Monique Zytnik https://www.dansodergren.com/blog/will-ai-make-internal-comms-more-human-than-humans