AI Has Answers. Do You Have Questions? (Evolve or Fade)
Artificial intelligence can now instantly deliver answers to nearly any question. Yet answers alone rarely transform the world. Genuine leadership lies in asking better questions. In the age of AI, this skill defines great leaders. Those who rely only on answers risk becoming irrelevant.
Leaders who merely seek fast answers limit their ability to innovate. They hand control to algorithms, passively accepting conclusions based on historical data. This approach stifles curiosity and creativity. Consider Nokia. The company once dominated global mobile phone sales. It had endless data about its customers and competitors. Yet its leadership failed to ask, "What will communication look like when phones are more than phones?" Instead of challenging its own assumptions, Nokia trusted what had worked in the past. The result was a steep decline.
Now contrast that with Patagonia. Its leaders consistently ask better questions about their role in the world—not just what products customers want, but how the company can align growth with environmental sustainability. This habit of inquiry has positioned Patagonia as a leader not just in outdoor gear but in responsible business.
Another example is Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, founder of Biocon. In an industry heavily dictated by data, she kept asking, "Why can’t India lead in affordable biopharmaceutical innovation?" Her persistence in questioning traditional pharma economics helped make life-saving medicines accessible to more people across the world.
The ability to ask powerful, insightful questions grows even more essential as AI becomes ubiquitous. AI excels at answering known queries based on past patterns. It cannot, however, imagine or challenge the status quo. Humans uniquely possess the curiosity and imagination to ask questions that stretch beyond conventional boundaries.
Effective leaders thus embrace AI as a tool to amplify their questioning power. AI can provide data quickly and clearly, freeing leaders to explore deeper, more meaningful questions. For example, AI can swiftly identify consumer behaviors or trends, allowing leaders to ask more strategic questions about long-term shifts or innovative possibilities. The partnership between AI and human curiosity creates extraordinary opportunities for innovation.
To remain relevant, leaders must deliberately nurture their questioning skills. Curiosity is not a passive trait; it requires active cultivation. Leaders should consistently challenge assumptions, explore unfamiliar ideas, and question the obvious. Organizations thrive when curiosity and inquiry are embedded into their culture.
In the age of AI, those who ask better questions will shape the future. Answers alone can only replicate the past. Curiosity and imaginative questioning open entirely new worlds of possibility. Each day, consider carefully: Am I merely accepting AI’s quick answers, or am I actively asking better, more meaningful questions?
