Dan Shapero, LinkedIn’s Chief Operating Officer, is using artificial intelligence in some pretty smart ways to make his workday more efficient and insightful. While AI is a fantastic tool, Dan is quick to remind us that it can’t replace the nuanced human judgment we need in areas like hiring and leadership.
In a chat with Business Insider, Dan shared some advice for business leaders: get comfortable with AI. He said, “My advice to business leaders is to get comfortable with the technology, to use it,” emphasizing how having a clear AI strategy is crucial for thriving in the next decade.
Echoing thoughts from tech leaders like Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Dan recognizes the importance of AI in today’s workspaces. Some leaders, like Shopify’s CEO Tobe Lütke, have even made AI use mandatory in their companies.
Dan has found three main ways AI helps him daily. First, AI summarizes notes from meetings he misses using Microsoft’s Copilot on the Teams platform. This way, he stays updated without being there. Second, AI helps him quickly understand new topics. He often uses tools like ChatGPT to dive into new technologies, legislation, and industry trends, getting insights fast. Third, AI makes meeting prep a breeze. LinkedIn’s Account IQ product consolidates company-related news and trends into a neat briefing, helping him prepare well for discussions. He also uses chatbots to polish his writing and presentation skills.
But AI isn’t perfect. In recruitment, while it can shortlist candidates, the human touch is still essential for evaluating fit and building connections. Leadership tasks like inspiring and deeply connecting with teams are areas where AI just can’t compete.
Dan believes that while AI can pull together information, the decision-making and visionary parts of leadership are still very much human tasks. “Ultimately it has to be you at the center, making the decision and seeing the path forward,” he says.
