What's Next powered by Deloitte - Andre Vermeulen on AI, human advantage and the future of work

AI and the future of work are transforming every business—but people remain the biggest competitive advantage. Deloitte explains why organisations that combine human expertise with AI will lead the next wave of innovation. Andre Vermeulen, Partner | Human Capital Leader Consulting Services at Deloitte Africa, joins What's Next powered by Deloitte to unpack the key findings from Deloitte's latest Global Human Capital Trends report. He explains why organisations must rethink traditional ways of working, embrace continuous adaptation, and build cultures that allow people and AI to work together effectively rather than compete against one another. The discussion explores the concept of "Human x Machine", why only a small percentage of organisations are successfully embedding AI into everyday work, and how leaders can balance automation with human judgement. Andre also examines the risks of over-relying on AI, including declining critical thinking, data quality concerns and trust, while highlighting practical examples of AI-assisted decision-making from Deloitte's work in Formula 1. The conversation concludes with insights into organisational agility, adaptive learning, and why human capability—not technology alone—will determine which businesses succeed in the AI era. For South African business and technology leaders, this episode offers practical guidance on preparing organisations for rapid technological change while ensuring people remain at the centre of innovation. 0:00 Intro 1:25 Deloitte's Global Human Capital Trends report explained 3:31 Why organisations must become faster and more adaptable 5:05 Human × Machine: the future of AI at work 10:03 The risks of over-relying on AI 15:04 Formula 1, AI and human decision-making 20:07 Why human advantage is the real competitive advantage Follow MyBroadband: X - https://twitter.com/mybroadband Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mybroadband Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mybroadband/ Website - https://mybroadband.co.za/news/ Sponsor: Deloitte - https://www.deloitte.com/za/en/Industries/technology/research/tech-trends-2026.html #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfWork #DigitalTransformation