Ep#54: Amplifying Human Potential by Collaborating with AI

DESIGN THINKER PODCAST

What if AI isn't here to replace us, but to help amplify our potential?

In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter are joined by Dave Howden, CEO of SupaHuman, to explore how AI challenges us to reclaim our distinctly human capabilities and elevate our human potential. The conversation moves beyond the AI hype to examine what happens when technology handles the tedious work and frees us to do what humans inherently do better.

In this episode, you will:

• Discover what humans are actually designed to do versus what we've been trained to do

• Understand why AI creates a "craft premium" for genuine human expertise

• Learn practical ways to get started with using AI

Meet Our Guest Dave Howden

Dave Howden is a seasoned technology leader and creative engineer from Auckland, New Zealand. Withover two decades of experience in the emerging tech sector, Dave is the CEO and Co-founder of SupaHumanAI, where he helps organizations unlock the opportunities of artificial intelligence. He has held pivotal rolesat companies like BT, Orange UK, Umbrellar and Pax8. Dave believes in doing cool stuff with great people,keeping things fun and authentic along the way.

You can connect with Dave on LinkedIn 👉🏽 https://www.linkedin.com/in/davehowden/

Show Notes

What We're Actually Designed For Relationship building, reading rooms, creative problem solving, strategic thinking, and applying nuanced judgment. These capabilities become more valuable, not less, when AI handles the routine work.

The Craft Premium Effect Just as handmade shoes command premium prices in a mass-production world, human expertise applied to the right problems becomes exponentially more valuable in an AI-enhanced workplace.

The Leadership Moment Organizations face a critical choice: use AI for shortsighted cost-cutting or invest in unlocking human potential for long-term growth. The decision shapes talent attraction and competitive advantage.

From Ground-Up Innovation AI democratizes change. Every employee can experiment, identify inefficiencies, and propose solutions. This represents the first time in history technology change can happen from the bottom up at scale.

The Generational Reality Different demographics approach AI adoption differently based on their workplace entry point. Understanding these differences is crucial for successful implementation without leaving anyone behind.

Revenue Leakage vs. Real Problems Many organizations rush toward AI solutions for problems that could be solved with basic process improvements. The key is distinguishing between genuine AI opportunities and fundamental business issues.

Practices You Can Apply

Start with the $20 investment Give your team access to consumer-grade AI tools and let them experiment safely within controlled environments.

Ask the fundamental question What work are you doing that humans weren't designed for? Start there for AI implementation.

Focus on enablement, not replacement Look for ways AI can handle routine tasks so you can focus on strategic and creative work.

Memorable Quotes

• "We weren't designed to sit behind a computer screen for hours. We were designed to build relationships and grow the population and look after each other." -- Dave Howden
• "AI plus your intellectual property equals magic." -- Dave Howden
• "This is probably the first time in history where we could actually drive technology change from the ground up at scale." -- Dr Dani
• "AI can help us be human again." -- Designer Peter
• "Free smart minds from tedious work." -- Dave Howden