Milos Maricic is one of the most respected voices in the field of emerging technologies and global governance. A former World Economic Forum Global Shaper and UN Fellow, Milos bridges the worlds of artificial intelligence, diplomacy, and international law to offer powerful insights into the future of digital society.
As one of the UK’s most in-demand artificial intelligence speakers and leadership speakers, Milos regularly advises multinational organisations and speaks globally on the ethical, political, and economic impacts of AI.
In this exclusive interview with Champions Speakers Agency, Milos shares his expert take on how businesses can harness AI for competitive advantage, why empathy and authenticity are critical in tech development, and what future-ready leadership truly looks like in an AI-driven world.
Drawing on his deep expertise as a cyber security speaker, generative AI speaker, and economics speaker, he explores the multifaceted role of technology in reshaping industries, democracies, and everyday life. This is essential reading for any leader looking to navigate disruption with clarity, responsibility, and impact.
Q: As AI continues to reshape business models, how can companies strategically adopt these technologies to drive innovation and remain competitive?
Milos Maricic: “Artificial intelligence is all about the smart risk-taking and experimenting. As such, AI helps us identify, for example, market risks and opportunities. I’ll give you a very clear example: Netflix uses AI to predict viewer preferences, enabling them to create highly successful original content, like for example Stranger Things, which my kids adore.
“But it goes beyond that. AI also makes possible tailored innovation. What I mean by that is instead of targeting psychographics or different market segments, we’re actually targeting individual consumers and clients.
“Another example: companies like Nike use AI to create customised sneakers through apps, giving customers a really deeply, deeply personalised, individualised experience.
“And I think if we look at the C-suite level – so for executives – executives are used to using intuition in addition to the data science and big data and so on to be taking their decisions. AI takes that to the next level, because AI can analyse data and make predictions better and faster than a human. But it does not have that intuition – that crucial step, that crucial component that only seasoned and successful executives have.
“I think it’s a challenge for them to now incorporate this new, exciting tool into their skill set, so that they can outcompete others.”
Q: With increased AI adoption comes growing concern over bias, transparency, and trust. What are the most urgent ethical issues businesses must confront today?
Milos Maricic: “There are many. It starts with bias and fairness. For example, in recruitment – if we take the example of Amazon – their early AI hiring tool favoured male candidates due to historical biases in the data, and there are many such examples. This underscores the need for vigilance in algorithm design to begin with.
“Then there is the question of transparency and trust. The example of Apple: they deployed their Apple Card algorithm, which they used to predict credit rating and so on a few years back, and they had a backlash because of that – because the algorithm discriminated against women.
“That sparked a huge debate around explainability of AI, meaning these machines are doing things without us actually understanding how they’re doing it and what reasons they have – what’s inside that black box.
“And the final component is responsibility and oversight. The example there is Facebook and their failure to curb algorithm-driven misinformation through several election cycles now. And the consequences of that is information silos, a greater polarisation of society. So yeah, the risks of AI are definitely multifaceted.”
Q: From generative tools to automation, what broader societal shifts have you observed as a result of AI and other emerging technologies?
Milos Maricic: “In several ways. First of all, we’ve seen a very exciting workforce transformation. Let’s say the introduction of AI by huge companies like Walmart has, on the one hand, reduced the need for some manual tasks – so you’re firing people, AI is taking away jobs. But it has also created new roles in data analytics and system management and so on. So the effect has not been so clear – it’s been quite dynamic.
“And then there’s been the global disruption of industries, of supply chains and so on. For example, Airbnb has completely disrupted the global hospitality industry by leveraging AI-driven pricing algorithms, and that has left traditional hotel chains scrambling to adapt.
“But the effect has also been, like I mentioned previously, deeper polarisation. Social media platforms like Twitter have been using AI for content creation, and this has amplified political divisions by creating echo chambers. So there have been positive and negative aspects.”
Q: Looking ahead, in what tangible ways do you believe AI could serve as a force for good—particularly in addressing global systemic challenges?
Milos Maricic: “Hopefully, first of all, by solving systemic challenges that our society faces – and this is something we’re already seeing. Let’s say AI-driven weather prediction models, like IBM’s Deep Thunder, are helping governments prepare for natural disasters and saving lives. So that’s a very practical thing that is already happening.
“Then AI can empower people. An example there is Duolingo, a language learning app that uses AI, and it has brought affordable education – in this case, language education – to millions worldwide, especially in underserved regions. And that’s why I think it’s a very positive case study.
“And then AI has also created new pathways – for example, for delivering humanitarian aid. So, the World Food Programme uses AI to optimise food distribution in crisis zones, and this minimises waste and maximises impact.”
Q: You often highlight the importance of empathy in tech. How can developers and leaders embed authenticity and human-centred values into the AI systems they build?
Milos Maricic: “It’s a great question, and I’ve thought about it a lot. I think that it starts with having empathy by design. For example, Microsoft’s Seeing AI app helps visually impaired users see their surroundings by describing them – showing how technology can enhance human connection. And I think it’s a beautiful example because it takes the needs of the audience and builds them into the very design of the app.
“And then it’s about augmenting and not replacing human skills. You take an app like Adobe’s Sensei AI – it doesn’t replace the human designer. It enhances the creative process, helping artists achieve their visions without automating away the creative journey.
“And I think another aspect – especially for executives – is that some organisations have begun a little bit of a transformation in terms of how they see their chief executives. Not so much as top-down decision-makers, but more as enablers who emphasise empathy in both leadership and product design – inspiring a bit of a socio-technical approach to technology.
“An example there could be Satya Nadella of Microsoft, and there are more and more executives that I’m seeing emerging that are in that mould, and I think it’s a positive trend.”
