Artificial intelligence is evolving faster than most businesses can comfortably process.
But according to futurist Mike Courtney, the real challenge is not learning every new tool. It is learning how to stay adaptable while technology continuously changes around us.
In this episode of Curiously Stuck, Chelsea Stuck sits down with Mike Courtney, founder of Aperio Insights, to explore the human side of AI, innovation, and emerging technology.
Rather than focusing on fear-based narratives around AI replacing jobs or disrupting industries, this conversation takes a more practical and optimistic approach:
How do leaders stay curious enough to evolve with change instead of becoming overwhelmed by it?
Chelsea and Mike discuss:
• Why humans often resist new technology before eventually embracing it
• The surprising research behind Nokia’s early camera phones
• How autonomous vehicles reveal the tension between rules and human behavior
• Why AI adoption is creating both anxiety and opportunity inside organizations
• The role curiosity plays in innovation and problem solving
• How AI can improve operations, efficiency, and decision-making in foodservice and beyond
• Why businesses need “arks, not umbrellas” when navigating technological disruption
One of the most memorable ideas from the episode is Mike’s belief that organizations should stop treating AI adoption like individual survival and start building systems that help entire teams evolve together.
Throughout the conversation, Mike repeatedly returns to a central idea:
Technology itself is not inherently good or bad. What matters is how humans choose to use it.
Chelsea also brings the discussion back to the emotional side of change, including the overwhelm many leaders feel trying to keep up with rapidly evolving tools, platforms, and expectations.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding AI, Mike remains optimistic about the future. Why?
Because innovation has always created disruption before creating progress.
From the industrial revolution to smartphones to AI, every major technological shift has forced people to rethink how they work, communicate, and solve problems. The leaders who succeed are rarely the ones who know everything first. They are the ones willing to keep learning.
Key takeaway:
You do not need to become an AI expert to stay relevant. But you do need to stay curious enough to adapt.
