Faisal Hoque Talks About Humanity, AI, and What Comes Next

Dec 17, 2025

Join Faisal Hoque, a seasoned entrepreneur and author of 'Transcend: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI', as he dives into the intricate dance between AI and human values. He shares insights on why generative AI is just the tip of the iceberg and how empathy should shape our tech interactions. Hoque introduces his OPEN and CARE frameworks to navigate the opportunities and risks of AI. He advocates for maintaining our humanity while leveraging AI's potential in sectors like healthcare and farming, urging us to design technology that honors genuine human connection.

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INSIGHT

Generative AI Is The Visible Tip

Faisal Hoque notes generative AI brought attention but AI has been progressing behind the scenes for years.
The technology mix includes humanity, philosophy, business, and engineering in one ecosystem.

INSIGHT

Outsourcing Risks Versus Expert Leverage

Outsourcing cognitive tasks to AI risks eroding our decision-making and discipline over time.
But disciplined domain experts can use AI to become hyper-productive and stay competitive.

ADVICE

Control Your Data Sources

Use curated data sources to avoid hallucinations and get relevant research faster with AI tools.
Build your own AI workspace so outputs reflect your material and reduce reliance on generic LLM data.

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This time on A Productive Conversation, I sit down with someone who has spent decades at the intersection of technology, leadership, and what it means to remain truly human. Faisal Hoque isn’t just writing about AI from afar—he has lived inside this world for more than thirty years. From founding multiple companies to advising global organizations and government agencies, he brings a rare blend of deep technical expertise and grounded philosophical clarity.

In this conversation, we get into his newest book, Transcend: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI, and explore the place where innovation meets conscience. We talk about fear and fascination, the frameworks that help us navigate uncertainty, and the practical ways AI is already reshaping how we think, work, and relate. It’s a wide-ranging, honest exchange about what we stand to gain—and what we can’t afford to lose.

Six Discussion Points

Why the rise of generative AI is only the beginning—and why thinking still matters
How fear and fascination operate as “twin cousins” in our relationship with emerging technology
Using the OPEN and CARE frameworks as complementary guides for opportunity and risk
What organizations often overlook when AI governance becomes purely operational
The philosophical crossroads ahead: outsourcing cognition vs. elevating human capacity
How empathy, devotion, and even love should shape the way we design and interact with technology

Three Connection Points

Getting to speak with Faisal reinforced something I’ve been thinking about for a long time: technology can extend what we do, but only we can determine who we become. AI may accelerate our output, sharpen our insights, and open new doors—but it can’t choose our purpose. That part remains ours. This conversation left me more convinced than ever that if we want a future worth inhabiting, we have to bring our humanity to the center of it.