In this thought-provoking episode of Let’s Talk Evolution, Luke Soon, Partner at PwC and a veteran computer scientist specializing in AI ethics and governance, explores the critical balance between innovation, safety, and responsibility in artificial intelligence. With more than three decades of experience,
Luke reflects on AI’s evolution from narrow, financial applications to its current role as a transformative yet potentially dangerous global force. He explains how AI has become the new “arms race,” driven by competition among nations, the erosion of trust, and the absence of strong international regulations. These challenges raise profound ethical and geopolitical questions about how humanity can maintain control over its own technological creations. Luke discusses the importance of human leadership in the emerging era of hybrid workforces, where AI agents will operate alongside people across a wide range of industries. Rather than replacing jobs, he envisions AI as a powerful enabler that enhances productivity and creativity. This shift will require humans to focus on uniquely human abilities such as ethical reasoning, problem-solving, and strategic oversight, which are skills that machines cannot genuinely replicate. The conversation also explores the rise of embodied AI and humanoid robots, which are expected to transform industries and move society closer to the long-anticipated goal of artificial general intelligence (AGI).
Through his insights, Luke emphasizes that responsible innovation, ethics-driven governance, and global collaboration are crucial to ensuring AI remains a force for progress rather than a source of instability. This episode offers valuable guidance for leaders, technologists, and policymakers who want to navigate the future of AI safely, ethically, and intelligently.
