Former Google Exec, Abigail Posner, Brings Humanity to Tech: Can AI & Human Creativity Coexist?
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“We are no longer in a universe where incremental change is enough to guarantee business growth.” Google’s Director of Creative Works Abigail Posner has spent her career linking the human experience to advancing technology. With AI presenting new challenges and opportunities to the business world, Abigail encourages professionals across industries to embrace emerging tech with a focus on partnership between AI and human creativity. Talking points include Google’s anthropological tech research, asking the right questions of generative AI, and how companies are getting it wrong with AI integrations.
Key Insights & Timestamps:
- [00:00] Podcast begins
- [01:51] Interviewing Maye Musk: Abigail’s experience & key takeaways
- [04:15] Elements of Success: How Abigail’s upbringing led her to anthropology & Google
- [11:50] Why Focus on Why? Anthropology connects tech algorithms & human intimacy
- [22:23] Humanizing Digital: Behind the scenes of Abigail’s innovative Google research
- [30:56] Will AI Replace Us? Leveraging advanced tech to unlock human creative capacity
- [38:02] Solving Problems, Asking Questions: What creative opportunities does AI present?
- [43:02] Where Did We Go Wrong? Challenges in AI integrations & finding new tech partners
Guest Spotlight
Abigail Posner:
Abigail builds belief. A Harvard-trained anthropologist turned tech strategist, she integrates different worlds (anthropology & technology, purpose & profit, creativity & analysis) to help people “feel” the brand, company, the technology or idea —so it lands, moves, and sells. At Google, she directed AI-driven brand creative strategies for YouTube's top advertisers, drove cultural transformation for 4,000+ salespeople, and pioneered "Humanizing Digital"—an anthropology-led thought leadership series.
She translates ambition into adoption for C-suite leaders navigating AI, digital transformation, and reinvention. Beyond her professional roles, she serves on the ENDI Corp Board, TheSocialArchitects' advisory board, and is a founding member of the Fashion in a Conscious Future Foundation.
Recognized with the UN Media Impact Award and featured in leading publications including The New York Times, Forbes, and Fast Company, she shares insights through global speaking engagements and her podcast "Human Code."
Because understanding isn't enough—people don't act until they believe.
Key Takeaways:
- AI Meets Human Creativity: The AI revolution is happening, and Abigail believes in embracing the creative future that AI can offer professionals in all industries. Beyond the standard definition of “creative,” Abigail believes that the best usage of AI won’t be images or videos, but instead will be the ability to generate and understand complex, multifaceted problems that need creative solutions from human beings.
- Business Meets AI: When a business integrates AI into their organization, Abigail believes that the worst mistake being made is seeing AI only as a tool, not as a partner. The negative perception that AI will steal human jobs comes from AI only being seen and utilized as a tool to accomplish tasks in someone's stead. In reality, AI needs humans and humans need AI in creative partnership to accomplish complex tasks in a demanding tech world.
Resources Mentioned:
Abigail’s latest article with anthropologist Tom Maschio, Abigail’s interview with Maye Musk, Human Code podcast on Spotify, Riding the Waves of Culture book,
Connect with Abigail:
For More Information:
Learn more about Chai at HeyChai.ai. Connect with host Roger Rohatgi on LinkedIn.
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