A Unique (!) Take on Who Should Run AI: with Liat Ben-Zur

In a time of dazzling technological breakthroughs and deepening divides, how do we ensure artificial intelligence (AI) serves society in ways that elevate humanity? What can be done to ensure the right people are leading in AI-based companies and that leaders are well prepared to navigate technological, moral and ethical dilemmas now and in the future? In this episode of The Space In Between, I sat down with the brilliant and well-respected technologist Liat Ben-Zur to explore this question with both candor and nuance. With more than 25 years of leadership experience at companies like Microsoft, Philips, and Qualcomm, Liat brings a rare blend of deep tech fluency, moral clarity, and lived experience in all-things AI and leadership. Her take on who should run AI is important, powerful and prescient!

This conversation reveals four key messages that matter now more than ever:

AI is not eliminating human leadership—it’s exposing it.
Those on the margins often hold the wisdom we need most.
Big tech’s choices matter—and so does ours.
Leading in an AI era demands moral courage, radical empathy, and a refusal to stay silent.

Let’s unpack each of these insights from the episode.

AI Doesn’t Eliminate Leadership—- It Exposes It

As Liat powerfully stated, “AI doesn’t eliminate human leadership. It exposes it.”

In today’s organizations, traditional hierarchies built on tenure or title are being disrupted by AI tools that democratize knowledge. A junior staffer with sharp prompting skills can now uncover insights that once took teams of experts months to generate. But access to data isn’t the same as wisdom.

Liat argues that the true differentiator in this new era isn’t what you know—it’s whether you can ask the right questions, recognize patterns others miss, and make ethical decisions when the data is incomplete. Leadership, in this context, is no longer about certainty. It’s about discernment, adaptability, and moral courage.

Lived Experience from the Margins Is a Strategic Advantage

In one of the most moving parts of our conversation, Liat shared how growing up as lesbian created an experience of being an outsider in many rooms and gave her a sixth sense for power dynamics, risk, and nuance—qualities AI cannot replicate. As she puts it, “Bias isn’t a technical bug. It’s a leadership blind spot.”

This insight is the foundation of her forthcoming book, The Bias Advantage: Why AI Needs the Leaders It Wasn’t Trained to See. Her premise is bold and clear: the very leaders often left out of dominant systems—women, LGBTQ+ people, people of color, people with disabilities—are precisely those best equipped to lead in an AI-powered world. Why? Because survival has given them the muscles of radical empathy, ethical radar, and creative influence without default authority.

In a world increasingly run by algorithms, this type of intelligence is not a “nice to have.” It’s a necessity.

Big Tech Holds Immense Power—& AI is also broadening the playing field

Liat didn’t mince words about the oversized influence of the “critical few”—the tech giants driving AI innovation and adoption. These companies aren’t just shaping markets. They’re shaping what counts as truth, what gets automated, and who gets left behind.

But she also pointed out: the future isn’t inevitable. It’s a design challenge. And that means we all have agency—especially if we lead, build, or use AI tools. Whether you’re building a product, writing a prompt, or approving a strategic roadmap, you can ask: Whose worldview is embedded in this model? Who benefits? Who’s at risk? What voices are missing?

As she reminded us, inclusion isn’t a PR strategy. It’s a core value. And it’s either present in the development of AI—or it’s not.

The Call for Moral Courage and Human-Centered Leadership

Perhaps the most urgent message of the episode came at the end, when Liat shared her wish for listeners: “Don’t stay silent. Ask the questions no one else is asking. Challenge assumptions, especially when the AI output feels too easy, too smooth, too certain. Bridge divides by showing up fully human.”

In an age where AI tools can codify the best or worst of our society, the question isn’t whether the technology is good or bad. It’s whether we will lead with curiosity, empathy, and a commitment to justice.

AI is a tool. A powerful one. But it doesn’t build bridges. People do. And we need leaders willing to lead—not just with speed and efficiency—but with imagination, ethics, and care.

Final Thoughts: Lightsabers, Jedi Knights and courageous Leadership

Liat and I also explored my metaphor for AI: AI tools are like lightsabers. They’re powerful instruments, but they require trained Jedi to wield them wisely and from ethical and moral grounding. Liat agreed and shared her call that we should all become the kind of leaders AI needs..

As she beautifully put it, “AI will reflect the best or worst of us—depending on who is leading it.”

Let’s make sure that the people leading it are wise, courageous, radically empathetic—and ready to shape a future that works for all.