Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant frontier—it’s rapidly driving transformation across many industries. As organizations scramble to adapt, leaders are facing hard questions not only about the future of work, but about the changing role of humans in an AI-powered world.

In an in-depth conversation, Nabil Bukhari, Chief Technology and Product Officer at Extreme Networks, shared sharp, forward-thinking insights on AI’s trajectory—from the rising importance of empathy and imagination to the urgent need for AI literacy in the C-suite.

Key Points: The Impact of AI on Business and Innovation

The human element: AI will, ironically, spotlight the value of human input and judgement.

Changing business: AI Is democratizing innovation—and disrupting industry sectors.

Can we trust our agents?: Agentic AI is being driven by ROI and trust in autonomy.

Need for education: AI literacy in the C-Suite is critically lacking.

Select Quotes: “Human qualities will become unique and sought after”

Bukhari offered deep, thought-provoking commentary on where AI is headed—and how it will reshape work, leadership, and society.

AI Will Push Us to Rediscover What It Means to Be Human

“More and more, AI is becoming good at doing the day-to-day things and even jobs that we used to do… there is no doubt about it. It will get better than humans. It already almost is.

“The big philosophical question is: what happens to humanity? And I really believe that it will force us and allow us the time to become more human. Think about it this way—if AI can write better, code better, create websites better—then what’s left? Empathy. Imagination. Connection. Those human qualities will become unique and sought after.”

The C-Suite Is Unprepared—And That Must Change

“Most of the AI literacy in the C-suite is abysmal… we don’t need them to understand how neural networks work, but they need to understand in principle how it’s different than any other technology.

“AI is not just another tool—it breaks silos, it redefines organizations. Ethics, finance, technology, legal—everyone needs to understand it. You can’t say, ‘I have 40 years of experience.’ You have zero years of experience in AI. We’re all in first grade, and we should be delighted about that.”

Democratization Will Reshape Industries

“AI reduces the barrier to entry. If you are an incumbent in an industry, your chances of becoming obsolete are now much higher. I can be in any industry in six weeks if I want to—because of AI.

“Think about what that means: competition increases, innovation increases, and the definitions of entire industries will change. This is not just a technology shift—it’s a societal one. And that beginner’s mind, brought in by democratization, is going to lead the next wave of breakthroughs, not the expert mind that’s too anchored in the past.”

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