Liza Adams

Many of the AI conversations right now are loud, urgent, and fear-driven.

Fear doesn’t always shout. Sometimes it shows up like this:

• ► “I don’t have time to learn this.”

• ► “What if I mess it up?”

• ► “You’re already behind.”

• ► “AI will replace your job.”

• ► “Here’s the tool—go figure it out.”

I’ve said this before: AI isn’t the hard part. We are.

This is a mindset and behavior shift. It’s human change and we need to give ourselves, and each other, some grace. None of us have done this before.

There’s no perfect path, no playbook, no experts. Just people trying, learning, and sharing what works and what doesn’t.

That’s why AI literacy matters. When we’re literate, we make better decisions for ourselves, our teams, our companies, our families, and society. When we’re not, we risk being influenced by people who don’t share our values.

A comment on one of my recent posts captured this better than I could:

“This has a very different energy. It invites curiosity and adaptation instead of panic. And at this stage of life (and the world), that feels so much more sustainable and human.”

That’s the energy I want to lead with.

So how do we move from fear to something more useful?

We start with curiosity. Below are a few reframes that have helped teams I work with shift their thinking. (See carousel.)

Leading with curiosity matters because fear shuts people down. It makes them play small, avoid risk, and stay quiet.

Curiosity, on the other hand, builds confidence. It invites experimentation. It keeps us learning. It’s also what helps us lead through change without the panic, pressure, or burnout.

This isn’t about sugarcoating. I’m all for being pragmatic and prepared. But fear doesn’t move us forward. Deliberate learning does.

I’m not always great at it. But I’m practicing and inviting others to do the same. If you’ve made a shift from fear to curiosity, big or small, I’d love to hear how. I dropped a few examples in the comments (https://lnkd.in/eHGUaxtW) of how I’ve been reframing AI in my work.

What’s worked for you or your team? We rise faster when learn together. If this resonated with you, feel free to share it with others.

Xapa Christine / Chris Heckart Uday Keshavdas

1) Are companies really replacing humans with AI?
What layoff statements actually say and what’s really happening: https://lnkd.in/gYayna-f

2) What it looks like to evolve your role with AI
Megan’s story of reimagining her job, not just automating it: https://lnkd.in/guRvHzaY

3) What history can teach us about adapting now
60% of today’s jobs didn’t exist in 1940—what that means for AI and what’s next: https://lnkd.in/gSNPwyRR

Marketing orgs are starting to look different. Human–AI teams are emerging.

Teams are not just using AI as tools. They are training, guiding, and embedded like real teammates where the AI does the repetitive tasks, helps with ideation, and supports workflows.

At the CMO Alliance’s June 11 CMO Summit, I’ll share how one marketing team achieved:

• 75% faster content creation

• 98% lead qualification accuracy

• 35% better campaign performance

I’ll also walk through how to build your first AI teammate — your digital twin.

As a CMO, your digital twin helps you catch blind spots, pressure-test your thinking, and scale your strategic guidance across the team.

It’s one of the highest-leverage AI teammates you can create. It strengthens your leadership, reinforces your judgment, and supports your team, especially when you’re not in the room.

Beyond my session, the virtual summit features a lineup of insightful topics and speakers covering the latest in marketing leadership, AI integration, and strategic innovation. It’s a comprehensive opportunity to learn, connect, and grow.

Join us and explore what’s possible. Let’s learn together.

Register here: https://lnkd.in/grri63xu

A Harvard study says people who use AI are less stressed. I believe it and I’ve felt it. The work gets lighter, you move faster, and you’re not staring at a blank screen as often.

But I also think we have to be careful. That relief might be temporary. History shows that when we gain new capabilities, we raise the bar. We don’t just enjoy the space, we fill it. And often, we don’t even realize we’re doing it.

That’s something I’m trying to stay aware of and actively manage.

I use AI not just in my work, but in my life. I’ve used it to plan family vacation adventures, help my daughter evaluate colleges, choose the best board games for teens, and more. I listen to AI podcasts while driving, running on the treadmill, or putting on make-up. It’s how I multi-task life.

Managing stress is important to me. I’ve set up my workspace outdoors this summer: walking pad, laptop on a stand, and my fur babies and a couple hummingbirds always close by. If needed, I listen to the fountain and take a little power nap in the hammock. Being surrounded by nature is making a real difference in both stress and creativity. (Photo below.)

Research backs this up:

• 50% creativity boost – Just 4 days in nature increases creative problem-solving by 50%. Even brief walks produce twice as many creative ideas as sitting.

• 60% more ideas – 81% of people who walked came up with 60% more creative ideas than those who sat. The benefits continued even after they stopped.

• Less stress, sharper thinking – Nature exposure measurably reduces stress hormones and blood pressure while improving focus and mood. The perfect setup for both creativity and productivity.

Even if you can’t work outside, studies show that simply standing while working and adding plants to your workspace can provide similar benefits.

I enjoy using the extra time AI gives me for strategic thinking and introspection. I like exploring new angles, getting to the deeper meaning, and finding clearer, simpler ways to express complex ideas. And I enjoy doing that even more with AI. It’s not just me and my jumbled thoughts anymore.

But I’m mindful of the balance. Because if I’m not, it’s easy to let expectations quietly creep up. To do more because I can. To let stress sneak back in disguise.

So I’m trying to use the time to think better, not just work faster. That feels more useful right now. How are you managing this new way of working with AI? Share your ideas so we can help each other.

Link to Ethan Mollick’s article about the Harvard study is in the comments for those curious, https://lnkd.in/gWHBJQ4W

Ethan Mollick’s article about the Harvard study that shows “People using AI reported significantly higher levels of positive emotions (excitement, energy, and enthusiasm) compared to those working without AI.” https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/the-cybernetic-teammate