Human-Centered AI And Leadership At Cannes

AI is no longer experimental. It is becoming critical infrastructure for any business or brand. Across industries and institutions, artificial intelligence is becoming the new foundation for decision-making, productivity, and influence. But as its adoption accelerates, one question becomes urgent: Who is shaping this future, and who is being left out of the design process?

Right now, the dominant narrative is controlled by a small group: tech giants, elite labs, and government interests. In the rush to scale, we risk ignoring a deeper shift that is quietly underway.

AI itself is not the disruption. The real disruption is how humans and machines collaborate going forward. That collaboration is still unevenly distributed. Too many people feel excluded from the AI conversation, uncertain how to begin or why it matters to them.

From Use to Leadership: Why Access Isn’t Enough

Access to AI tools is a starting point, but it is not the end goal. What matters more is agency. We need to equip people not just to use AI, but to lead with it.

This is the mission behind Mia AI, founded by Janna Salokangas Co-Founder and CEO and Melissa Stires, Founding Partner. Their work spans global institutions like the United Nations Development Programme, the European Central Bank, Fortune 500 companies, and local innovators in more than 65 countries.

“We’re not just building skills. We’re building futures,” said Melissa Stires, Mia’s Founding Partner. “AI amplifies the intelligence people already have. We are here to unlock that potential at scale.”

At Cannes Lions, Mia AI launched the Mia AI Circle, a free global learning platform aiming to equip one million women with the skills and confidence to lead in the AI era. Announced during a panel with Mia AI partners Dr. Deepak Chopra and Poonacha Machaiah, co-founders of Cyberhuman.ai, the initiative champions a bold, human-first vision: AI should be accessible to all.

The Mia AI Circle goes beyond education, it’s a movement. Members get live sessions, portfolio support, and a global community, all with zero jargon and zero gatekeeping. It’s built to empower everyone with the AI confidence, skills, and tools to thrive in the age of AI and unlock their full potential. #EmpowerwithAI

Human Intelligence Is The Differentiator

Mia AI’s commitment to what they call “power skills”—the human abilities no machine can replicate is part of reclaiming the narrative when it comes to AI. That includes emotional intelligence, contextual awareness, systems thinking, and ethical decision-making.

“AI is the most powerful force shaping our future. But your unique human intelligence is your differentiator. Don’t wait to be led, design how AI transforms your work. That’s how you become irreplaceable,” said Mia’s Janna Salokangas.

In a time when many focus on automation many are focusing on augmentation. The goal is not to replace people, but to amplify what makes them valuable.

A Global Movement

Mia AI is one part of a much larger shift. Programs like AI4ALL are opening doors for underrepresented high school students. DeepLearning.AI is upskilling professionals around the world with practical, applied AI education. International bodies like UNESCO are leading critical conversations around AI ethics and inclusion.

Each initiative takes a different approach. But all are working toward the same goal: a more equitable, human-centered future shaped by a wider range of voices.

Welcome To The Intelligence Economy

We have moved past the knowledge economy. Today, value is created by those who can integrate data, ethics, emotion, and creativity in real time. AI is no longer just a tool, it has now become a partner in shaping decisions and designing systems.

According to the World Economic Forum, AI and automation will transform 86 percent of business operations by 2030. The leaders who thrive in this new landscape will not just adopt new technologies. They will co-create with them.

A Leadership Imperative

The question now is not what AI can do, but who decides what it should do. If the future of AI remains in the hands of a few, it will reflect the same systemic gaps we have seen before. But if that future is shaped by a broader coalition, educators, founders, policymakers, artists, and builders, it can become something far more inclusive and ethical.

The message behind #EmpowerWithAI is not about marketing. It is about shifting the center of gravity in the AI conversation. It is about reclaiming our collective role in shaping what comes next.

Because the future is not something that just happens, it is something that we create together and actively from Cannes to Sillicon Valley, from Dubai to Singapore and beyond.