Sarah Franklin believes the heart of any tech revolution beats strongest where people come first.
As the head of Lattice, a performance software firm valued at $3 billion, Franklin has become an outspoken advocate for responsible approaches to artificial intelligence in the workplace.
Executives in Silicon Valley often tout the returns of automation and bots, but Franklin urges a different perspective. Replacing employees with algorithms might cut costs quickly, but it can damage trust with customers and harm what a brand stands for.
She says that while artificial intelligence offers incredible possibilities for streamlining work, keeping humans involved is crucial. At a recent SXSW event in London, she challenged companies to ask themselves whether their aim is to boost the success of smart machines or to lift up people.
Trust, Franklin argues, remains the true currency for any business leader. Customers notice when companies care about people over profits.
AI That Puts People First
Lattice has begun integrating artificial intelligence into everyday work in ways that support, rather than replace, their teams. The company rolled out an AI agent designed to offer timely feedback and coaching during private meetings, making performance reviews and growth feel less stressful and more insightful.
Franklin explains that Lattice clients can also tailor their own smart assistants for unique business needs. However, she warns that oversight is absolutely essential.
She sees transparency and accountability as non negotiable. Employees must clearly understand what these tools do, and executives must accept responsibility for their outcomes.
Franklin’s vision is that artificial intelligence works for people, not the other way around. She wants leaders everywhere to safeguard the checks and balances that have always made workplaces effective and fair.
She sees a future where technology amplifies human potential, never overshadows it. Companies willing to uphold this ideal, Franklin believes, will outpace their competitors and earn lasting loyalty.
Franklin says that protecting genuine human connection is the only way to win the long race of innovation. Leaders who put people first now could well redefine how every workplace looks in the years ahead.
