AI panic isn’t ALL about the tech - it’s a Change Management problem
- Cerys Thompson
- May 27
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 4
Imagine a team inside a large organization, rolling out a new system.
No real testing. Minimal guidance. Unknown governance. Zero leadership.
Just an email to all employees and customers: "try this".
There would be absolute chaos.
Questions flying from all directions.
Knock-on impacts to all departments.
Morale quickly plummeting.
Emergency meetings about emergency meetings.
The communications team would be drowning.
The legal team would be full of anxiety.
The training team would be in shock.
Leaders would have no answers.
It sounds so implausible.
And yet, we're watching it unfold in real time with AI - not inside one organization but across the world with billions of people. Across all industries, all businesses, all communities.
A major leap in technology, launched with little context, minimal training and a tidal wave of unclear communication.
This is about to become the biggest case study in why Change Management can not be an afterthought.
AI Change Management: Where did it all go wrong?
AI comes with real concerns: bias, misinformation, environmental impact and ethics (just to name a few).
But there is also emotional chaos that goes way beyond the technology itself.
Some people are excited. Others are terrified. Most are somewhere between confused, frustrated or just plain exhausted.
You only need to look at LinkedIn right now... the AI debate is everywhere.
Accusations over em-dashes, oxford commas, emojis and sentence structures.
Credibility is taking a hit. Trust is at rock bottom. People are craving human reassurance while simultaneously, and ironically, exploring the possibilities of this new technology.
We have full AI advocates as well as complete AI resistors. And then a sea of "what on Earth is happening?" in between.
This isn't just a tech problem - it's a people problem
When people experience change they didn’t ask for, don’t fully understand and haven’t been supported through - they resist.
Not because they hate change (although we all do really) but because it taps into emotional triggers of feeling incompetent, ignored or simply left behind.
Although this is a tech rollout, people still need to be at the forefront.
So, what's missing?
No clear narrative. Most people aren’t sure why AI has been introduced and what it's really for. What are the tangible benefits in day-to-day life (i.e. not just making action figure dolls...) and what does it really mean for data governance, security, the environment etc.
No support. New tools are rapidly appearing - so even if you wanted to try AI, where do you even start? There's no time to adapt - there's just a pressure to catch up or fall behind.
No relevance. People are asking: What does this mean for me, my role, my work, my value - or even more deeply - my purpose? And with no answers, people are digging their heels in.
No unity. There is a rapidly growing AI vs non-AI divide. Some so against it, they won't even shop or do business with those who do use it. Trust and credibility are eroding fast while others feel they have to defend strategic use cases.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg but it all points to a classic Change Management fail - people don't like change being done to them.
You need to bring them along and show the value it brings for them, their community, their business and beyond.
A more human approach to AI adoption
When people feel supported, informed and included, they engage. They become the advocates, lead the change and continue to drive real action.
If your business is navigating change (AI or otherwise), prioritizing the people side is what makes the difference between chaos and confidence. So take a moment to really consider what you're asking of them and how you can make it easier.
There is a long way to go in the AI journey - and we can only hope that it gets a bit smoother.
But maybe if Skynet had just invested in good Change Management, The Resistance would’ve been a lot less... resistant.
Whether you're introducing AI, shifting direction or just trying to get your team on the same page, the Resonate with People™ program helps you plan the message, engage your team and build trust through the process.
Because change doesn’t work without communication that resonates.
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