Notes on AI, work and organisations.

Essays and observations from stages, boardrooms and my work at 8vance. Less prediction, more attention to the questions, patterns and examples that help organisations make better decisions. Prefer Dutch? See those insights →

Laurens Waling on a dark stage beside a slide asking where the audience sees the most potential in AI, with a radar chart of the live vote

Article

From hype to reality: what HR Tech Europe 2026 actually revealed

Two days at HR Tech Europe in the RAI in Amsterdam are behind me. What stood out most is how much the tone has shifted compared to last year. Less…

23 April 2026

Laurens Waling in a green jacket, gesturing with both hands in front of a screen about the impact of AI during a session in a bright room

Article

AI May Be Creating More Jobs Than It Cuts. But The Real Story Is More Complex

The debate around AI and jobs is often framed in extremes. Some predict massive job destruction. Others argue AI will unlock new productivity and…

13 March 2026

Laurens Waling in a grey three-piece suit on a blue-lit stage, next to an LED wall reading 'the future starts here'

Article

Bridging the Gap Between Emerging Talent, AI and Reality

The debate about early-career talent and AI is becoming increasingly polarized. Graduates are portrayed as unprepared or unrealistic, while…

27 January 2026

View from the balcony of a full theatre, with Laurens Waling alone on stage beside two orange armchairs and a slide of labour market figures

Article

AI Does Not Need More Unicorns. It Needs a Skills Infrastructure.

Almost every major AI report published recently reaches the same conclusion: we need to invest in AI talent.

15 January 2026

Laurens Waling lecturing in a hall with green chalkboards, in front of a slide about impact through innovation and scaling up

Article

Responsible AI Sometimes Means Moving Forward, Not Slowing Down

Responsible AI is often discussed as if artificial intelligence is mainly a risk that needs to be controlled. In education, policy and organisations,…

15 January 2026

Article

2026 is here. HR is no longer a function. It is stewardship and orchestration.

I am not an HR manager. But I work daily with HR leaders, boards and innovators across sectors. And as 2026 unfolds, one thing becomes impossible to…

5 January 2026

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Questions on my mind

I believe less and less in simple answers.

Far more interesting are the questions that arise when technology, work and humanity start shifting at the same time.

What do we miss when we recruit on experience alone?
Which decisions about people should AI never make on its own?
Why do sound change plans stall the moment roles and status are affected?
How do you organise work around tasks instead of job titles?
Which human qualities become more valuable as AI gets better?
How do we give more people access to work that actually fits them?

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