The Limits of Artificial Intelligence in Leadership Decisions During Crises

The Balance of Technology and Humanity in Crisis Management

A recent Forbes analysis has laid bare the limitations of rapidly proliferating artificial intelligence (AI) tools in business during their most challenging test: moments of crisis. According to the analysis, while these tools have revolutionized routine operations and data analytics, they are insufficient on their own for critical leadership decisions during high-tension situations that threaten an organization's top-level goals and operations and require urgent action. By definition, a crisis is a situation of high uncertainty that renders adaptation and prevention systems inadequate.

This reality serves as another reminder that leadership is a far more complex phenomenon than mere data processing or scenario modeling. Crisis management is defined as a holistic process encompassing leadership, decision-making, communication, and management functions together. Artificial intelligence can support specific parts of this process, particularly rapid analysis based on historical data and probability calculations. However, it cannot provide the ultimate responsibility, the skill to manage the unforeseeable, and most importantly, the capacity to build trust by inspiring people.

Building Trust: The Wall AI Cannot Surmount

During crises, employees, stakeholders, and the public expect clear, consistent, and humane leadership from their leaders. This is the fundamental point underscored by the Forbes analysis: trust and credibility are tightly bound to human judgment, organizational culture, and leader behavior. An AI algorithm can suggest communication texts or generate risk maps, but it cannot deliver a sincere speech to boost a team's morale, fully grasp the human dimension of an ethical dilemma, or intuitively feel and make a bold decision based on gut instinct.

The concept of "crisis," often associated in the public mind with heart attacks or nervous breakdowns, evokes a similar sense of urgency and stress for organizations. The use of the word "buhran" (crisis/depression) for such situations until the 1950s also indicates the seriousness of the state. It is in such an environment that emotional intelligence, empathy, and the ability to make value-based judgments under pressure become irreplaceable human assets. While AI can process vast amounts of information faster than any human, the synthesis of that information into a coherent, trustworthy, and motivating narrative remains a uniquely human leadership function.