The Human Side of AI

Steve joined Ben Pearce as a featured guest on the TechWorld Human Skills Podcast to discuss the seismic transformation occurring within the technical consulting industry. Drawing on his experience co founding Stealth Labs and developing Michie.ai, an agentic AI platform designed to automate fundamental consultancy workflows, Steve candidly addressed how today's AI capabilities are not merely augmenting but actively replacing entry level and junior consulting roles. Rather than sugarcoating the disruption, he pivoted the conversation towards actionable adaptation strategies: emphasising the democratisation of knowledge through free LLM powered learning tools, Steve argued that individuals now have unprecedented access to world class expertise previously gatekept by expensive institutions or elite firms. He predicted a paradigm shift away from monolithic consulting conglomerates towards a flourishing ecosystem of specialised sole traders and boutique consultancies, each offering deep domain expertise in narrow verticals. This fragmentation, Steve suggested, represents the natural evolution of a knowledge economy where AI handles commoditised tasks whilst human consultants focus on high touch advisory, strategic judgement, and client relationships that machines cannot replicate. The episode provides a pragmatic roadmap for professionals navigating the transition from traditional employment to agile, AI augmented independent practice.