Curious Business: Insights for B2B Growth

The Key Skill in GenAI: Insights for Business Innovation with Dan Klein

May 27, 2025

Dan Klein, a veteran in data-driven technology, shares insights on the evolution of Generative AI. He argues that curiosity is key to leveraging AI for business innovation rather than simply adopting new technologies. Klein emphasizes the importance of skilled professionals in ensuring effective AI integration and decision-making. He critiques reliance on legacy systems like Excel, advocating for continuous learning and adaptation. Storytelling from various sectors highlights how organizations can thrive by fostering a culture of experimentation and questioning.

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INSIGHT

Curiosity Outperforms AI

Curiosity is a critical human trait that generative AI lacks and cannot replicate.
Individuals with curiosity in the workplace consistently outperform those without it, according to Dan Klein.

ANECDOTE

AI’s Gradual Evolution Story

Dan Klein shared his journey starting with neural networks for aircraft health monitoring in the 90s.
His experience shows AI evolved gradually, boosted by cheaper cloud computing and big data, not as a sudden revolution.

INSIGHT

AI Augments Human Decisions

AI augments human decision-making by refining and correlating data for better clarity.
Humans remain essential for final judgment and validation, especially for new or unusual cases.

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Is GenAI a revolution or merely an evolution of data-driven innovation and automation? Dan Klein has been at the forefront of data-driven tech for thirty years. From the timeless principles guiding how he helps organisations and the need to test GenAI’s output, to finding the value and championing curiosity, he provided real food for thought in this conversation with Stephen Morris.

As someone who has been working with neural networks, deep learning, automation and data-driven decision-making since the 1990s, Dan sees GenAI not as a revolution but as a continuation. Don’t go after the tech; think about how you can improve your business, focus on continuous enhancements and foster a culture that encourages small-scale innovation by those at the sharp end. He illustrates his view with references from real-world experience in the aircraft, automotive, banking, government and other sectors.

Dan believes we must champion curiosity to ensure organisations continue improving and adapting to new possibilities. However, he thinks many organisations neglect to maintain employees’ skills and use their knowledge and perspective to drive innovation. We must ensure experienced teams focus on doing what GenAI can’t – questioning, experimenting, and inventing. “The individuals who exhibit curiosity in the workplace,” he says, “always do substantially better than those who do not.”

In the rapidly advancing world of AI, curiosity stands out as a differentiator between those who will thrive and those who may be left behind.

You’ll learn:

How GenAI can augment human decision-making
The precursors and technological changes that paved the way for Generative AI
What GenAI means for managers and management
The blockers that will stop many organisations from transforming and leveraging AI
What it means for the workforce of the future – onboarding, training and collaboration
The intricacies of synthesising information, managing data, and making informed decisions in evolving tech landscapes

Connect with Dan on LinkedIn.

Listen to Dan's Data Today podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts).

Join Dan for kayaking, whale watching and lots more on the beautiful shores of Lake Sunart in Scotland.

Mentioned in this episode:

Barbara Minto 'The Pyramid Principle' (affiliate link)

W. Edwards Deming 'The Essential Deming' (affiliate link)

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Thanks for listening to Curious Business, the business podcast that brings you fresh insights, experiences and anecdotes to help you think differently about your business and marketing.

My name is Stephen Morris. I help start-ups and scale-ups gain clarity and take action, delivering momentum in their growth. If you'd like to know more, book a discovery call.