Most organizations think they have an AI tool problem. They do not. They have an AI behavioral problem. The licenses get bought, the workshops happen, and by Monday morning, people are back to working exactly as they did before.
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In this episode of @thehrldpodcast Nick Day is joined by Jamie Bykov-Brett, an AI transformation strategist, TEDx speaker, and co-founder of the Executive AI Institute. Jamie's path into AI started in youth work, supporting young people from marginalized backgrounds into STEM careers. It was there, back in 2014, that he began forecasting how automation would reshape the workforce, discovering along the way that technology adoption rarely fails because of the tools themselves; it fails because people were never taken through the change. That change management lens is exactly what he brings to AI training and organizational transformation today.
Nick and Jamie explore why one-off AI workshops rarely create lasting behavior change, and why real transformation starts with human-centric skill development, not the tools. They unpack the "eliminate, automate, delegate" framework for deciding where AI actually belongs in a workflow, why psychological safety is the missing ingredient in most AI rollouts, and how legacy failed change projects can quietly sabotage adoption before training even begins. They also dig into why your most resistant employees might be your best future change agents, why highly technical people sometimes struggle most with AI adoption, why organizations should expect a temporary dip in performance during rollout rather than instant ROI, and what it actually looks like to design an AI learning intervention that turns AI into a daily working habit rather than a novelty.
In a world where organizations are under pressure to prove AI adoption is working immediately, this episode makes the case that the real barriers were never technical. They are emotional, cultural, and behavioral, and the organizations that address that will be the ones that actually get results.
A must-listen for HR leaders, L&D professionals, and anyone responsible for making AI adoption actually stick inside their organization.
Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thepayrollpodcast for more great content!
Guest and Host:
Jamie Bykov-Brett's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiebykovbrett/
Jamie Bykov-Brett's Website: bykovbrett.net
Nick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/
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Timestamps:
(00:01) Why AI Training Fails: The Behavior Problem, Not a Tool Problem
(03:27) Jamie's Journey: From Youth Work to AI Transformation Strategist
(09:05) The AI Adoption Gap: Rising HR Burnout Despite AI Investment
(10:47) AI as a Mirror: Why Technology Reflects Your Organization's Culture
(14:30) Human-Centric Skills First: Curiosity, Creativity and Critical Thinking
(20:31) The Eliminate, Automate, Delegate Framework
(23:09) Designing AI Interventions That Actually Fit Your Organization
(27:43) Turning Resistant Employees Into Change Agents
(33:11) The Hidden Fears Driving AI Resistance
(37:03) Case Study: How Insights Achieved a 9.7 NPS on AI Training
(39:59) Why L&D Should Expect a Performance Dip Before AI Pays Off
(45:43) Rapid Fire: Career Advice, Leadership, and HR's Future