The biggest risk of AI isn’t that it will replace us. It’s that we’ll stop exercising the critical thinking, judgment and curiosity that make us human. Speaker and facilitator Bethan Winn helps leaders and teams strengthen critical thinking, communication and decision making through her work at Human Skills Co. She works across business, government and education, helping people think more clearly, question assumptions and make better decisions. 

Bethan explains why convenience always comes with trade-offs, how leaders unintentionally train people not to think for themselves, and why judgment is now a core leadership skill. She also shares practical frameworks for making better decisions, developing stronger thinking habits, and using AI to challenge our thinking rather than replace it. 

Takeaways 
Critical thinking weakens when we outsource too much thinking to artificial intelligence.
Leadership improves when questions replace answers and people develop independent judgment together.
Convenience always carries trade-offs, especially when thinking becomes someone else’s responsibility entirely.
Strong leaders coach decision-making instead of solving every problem for their teams.
Better decisions require curiosity, humility, patience, and willingness to challenge personal assumptions regularly.
Artificial intelligence works best when questioning our thinking instead of replacing it.
Reading deeply and reflecting carefully strengthens mental muscles increasingly weakened by convenience daily.
The future belongs to people combining human judgment with technology’s extraordinary capabilities wisely.

Follow Bethan Winn 
https://www.bethanwinn.com.au/ 

Bethan’s book 
The Human Edge: Critical Thinking in the Age of AI by Bethan Winn https://amzn.to/43q8lDn 

Books recommended 
Why You Can't Pay Attention by Johann Hari https://amzn.to/4fS33In 

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners 

Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/ 

Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  
Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO 
Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. 
Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. 
Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life) 

Follow me: 
on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles  
on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth 

Enjoying the show? Leave a review 

The biggest risk of AI isn&rsquo;t that it will replace us. It&rsquo;s that we&rsquo;ll stop exercising the critical thinking, judgment and curiosity that make us human. Speaker and facilitator Bethan Winn helps leaders and teams strengthen critical thinking, communication and decision making through her work at Human Skills Co. She works across business, government and education, helping people think more clearly, question assumptions and make better decisions.&nbsp;
Bethan explains why convenience always comes with trade-offs, how leaders unintentionally train people not to think for themselves, and why judgment is now a core leadership skill. She also shares practical frameworks for making better decisions, developing stronger thinking habits, and using AI to challenge our thinking rather than replace it.&nbsp;
Takeaways&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Critical thinking weakens when we outsource too much thinking to artificial intelligence.</li>
<li>Leadership improves when questions replace answers and people develop independent judgment together.</li>
<li>Convenience always carries trade-offs, especially when thinking becomes someone else&rsquo;s responsibility entirely.</li>
<li>Strong leaders coach decision-making instead of solving every problem for their teams.</li>
<li>Better decisions require curiosity, humility, patience, and willingness to challenge personal assumptions regularly.</li>
<li>Artificial intelligence works best when questioning our thinking instead of replacing it.</li>
<li>Reading deeply and reflecting carefully strengthens mental muscles increasingly weakened by convenience daily.</li>
<li>The future belongs to people combining human judgment with technology&rsquo;s extraordinary capabilities wisely.</li>
</ul>
Follow Bethan Winn <a href="https://www.bethanwinn.com.au/">https://www.bethanwinn.com.au/</a>&nbsp;
Bethan&rsquo;s book&nbsp; The Human Edge: Critical Thinking in the Age of AI by Bethan Winn <a href="https://amzn.to/43q8lDn">https://amzn.to/43q8lDn</a>&nbsp;
Books recommended Why You Can't Pay Attention by Johann Hari <a href="https://amzn.to/4fS33In">https://amzn.to/4fS33In</a>&nbsp;
Watch the episode on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners">https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners</a>&nbsp;
Newsletter &ndash; each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/">https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/</a>&nbsp;
Books &ndash; Learn more about our books&nbsp;<a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/">https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/made-to-thrive/"> Made to Thrive:</a> The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/onboarded/">Onboarded:&nbsp;</a>How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process.&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/onboarded-for-managers-book/">Onboarded for Managers:</a> Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster.&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/bigger-isnt-better/">Bigger isn&rsquo;t Better, Better is Better:</a>&nbsp;Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)&nbsp;
Follow me:&nbsp; on <a href="https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles">https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles</a>&nbsp; on <a href="https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth">https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth</a>&nbsp;
Enjoying the show? Leave a review&nbsp;

A place for the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers.

The Evolution Partners is a weekly podcast hosted by Brad Giles. Join Brad as he engages in conversations with some of the world’s sharpest minds, learning a bit more about them and delving into what makes them tick.

A place for the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers.
The Evolution Partners is a weekly podcast hosted by Brad Giles. Join Brad as he engages in conversations with some of the world’s sharpest minds, learning a bit more about them and delving into what makes them tick.

The Evolution Partners

Each week Brad Giles talks with the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers who are helping to build great companies in their own way.

We learn how the work they’re doing is creating an impact and get to know a little bit more about them, and what makes them tick.

Each week Brad Giles talks with the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers who are helping to build great companies in their own way.
We learn how the work they’re doing is creating an impact and get to know a little bit more about them, and what makes them tick.