THE IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON LEADERSHIP: PERSPECTIVES FROM LEADERSHIP EXPERT

Abstract

This study explores how the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) transforms contemporary leadership practices, focusing on leaders’ perceptions, experiences, and ethical reflections. Drawing on a constructivist qualitative design, seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with leadership experts from diverse sectors including technology, education, and services. Thematic analysis was applied to identify recurring patterns and conceptual insights regarding the evolving relationship between human judgment and machine intelligence. The results reveal that AI is primarily perceived as a decision-support tool that enhances analytical capacity and efficiency, yet it simultaneously challenges traditional leadership roles, ethics, and trust. Leaders view AI as a strategic partner that complements rather than replaces human intuition, emphasizing the need for transparency, accountability, and empathy in algorithmic decision-making. Findings highlight a shift in leadership identity from authority-based to interpretive and facilitative forms, demanding new competencies such as digital literacy, ethical awareness, and adaptive learning. The study contributes to leadership theory by framing AI as a catalyst for a new paradigm of human–machine collaboration, in which ethical reflection and technological competence are equally essential. Practically, it underscores the importance of cultivating organizational cultures that balance innovation with human values. The research concludes that AI does not diminish leadership—it redefines it as a dynamic, morally grounded, and human-cantered practice in an era of intelligent technology.