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| Artificial intelligence is reshaping leadership, from decision-making to organizational operations and strategic thinking. (Source: Bangkok Post) |
In an article published in the Bangkok Post on May 12th, Arinya Talerngsri, Senior Vice President, Local Partnerships and CEO of BTS Thailand, argued that AI is reshaping how we make decisions, how organizations operate, how strategies are built, and even the values by which people are judged. More importantly, AI is forcing leaders to confront a deeper reality: It's not just about what AI can do, but about how we lead when the "rules of the game" are no longer stable.
According to the author, a growing trend is that advantage no longer lies solely in speed. Deploying new tools without accompanying organizational restructuring will create operational "friction." If strategy is considered a fixed element, businesses will lose their ability to adapt to change. At the same time, focusing solely on improving individual skills is insufficient, because the nature of work is changing at the system level, no longer operating in the traditional way.
This isn't a technology issue. This is a leadership choice.
AI is increasing capabilities, but it is also exposing gaps in decision-making, organizational cohesion, and the ability of leaders to cope with uncertainty, ambiguity, and decentralization. That is the core challenge.
Author Arinya Talerngsri argues that leadership in the AI era requires a different mindset—less certainty, more questioning; less control, but better system design; less reliance on hierarchy, but increased trust in decision-making capabilities across the organization.
This also requires a shift in perspective, from viewing AI as a tool to viewing AI as an environment. This environment is characterized by faster information flow, more accessible knowledge, decisions that can be made closer to the front lines, but also a faster spread of errors.
This duality is often underestimated. AI simultaneously expands opportunities and increases risks. And it is ultimately the leaders who will decide which factor prevails.
In Southeast Asia, this period holds particular significance. The diversity, rapid growth, and uneven levels of digital development mean there is no single, universal path. What works in one market may not necessarily work in another. Therefore, the ability to judge, understand the context, and adapt is more crucial than ever.
This is an opportunity, not only to apply AI but also to shape a new type of organization from the outset—one that is more flexible, responsive, and purposeful in balancing human and machine intelligence.
But this “window of opportunity” won’t last forever. As AI becomes more deeply integrated, models will gradually take shape, structures will become more rigid, and the cost of change will increase. Therefore, leaders’ decisions in the present moment have more significance than they seem.
Successful organizations won't be those that adopt AI the fastest, but rather those that are willing to change themselves, reinvent their decision-making processes, redesign their teamwork, and continuously adjust their strategies. Meanwhile, they must maintain the unchanging elements of judgment, accountability, and the ability to see beyond the data.
As AI continues to evolve, the question is whether leaders will be able to adapt to these changes. Author Arinya Talerngsri concludes that AI does not determine the future; it is the leaders who will.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ai-va-lanh-dao-thay-doi-thuc-su-la-gi-393017.html
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