As AI becomes more prevalent in our lives and keeps growing at a rapid pace, I argue that we need to think slower. Why? Because some of us have already become over-reliant on AI to get more done, and are in the process of slowly giving away our power - our human power. 

It’s very easy to lose sight of what makes us truly human when we overindulge and don’t remain balanced. 

Whilst AI is faster, smarter, and more efficient and provides tons of information at our fingertips - it lacks the very things that make us human: Our empathy, intuition, and courage. The world right now does not need more information, but more wisdom.

Within each one of us, is our lived experiences, and this is our wisdom that we need to put to good use in everything we do as leaders. I argue that we need to strive for AUTHENTIC INTELLIGENCE.

What is Authentic Intelligence?

In the same way that there’s balance in nature, we need to strike a balance between both Artificial and Authentic Intelligence. Artificial Intelligence is here to stay, but it is how we apply and manage it and keep this balance that counts. Practising Authentic Intelligence is therefore important.

Authentic Intelligence is about showing up fully—with self-awareness, emotional sovereignty, and authenticity. But it’s also more than that—it’s about the inner work we do to peel back the layers of societal expectations. It’s a practice, a commitment to being audacious inside out.

Authentic Intelligence matters in problem-solving

While technology evolves, it’s the human connection—empathy, authenticity, and leadership—that will define the future. These skills are no longer optional; they’re essential.

Look at hiring trends. More and more, companies aren’t just looking for technical skills. They want people who can think critically, navigate uncertainty, and communicate with empathy. That’s where Authentic Intelligence comes in.

One of the biggest barriers to critical thinking today is the need for psychological safety. Too often, people don’t feel safe enough to speak up, to challenge ideas, to voice dissent. We sit in meetings, feeling deep down that something isn’t quite right, but we stay silent, fearful of rocking the boat. 

Authentic Intelligence demands that we create spaces where people feel safe, to be honest, to be vulnerable, to bring our whole selves to the table because we understand by doing so we get to rewrite the script of a system that is not inclusive.

At my business - Carmen Murray Communications, I deeply believe in Authentic Intelligence and I’ve developed an Authentic Intelligence model with my team that helps individuals and organisations cultivate critical thinking. It’s built on seven core areas:

The Authentic Intelligence model

1. Creative Intelligence: 

Critical thinking thrives on the ability to explore different perspectives. Creative Intelligence is about playing with divergent and convergent thinking—challenging what is, to imagine what could be.  Picasso once said, “It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.”  We need to engage in more play, and creativity takes place the best, when you are out of air conditioned boxes, multiple screens, and get into nature. Perhaps we have lost our connection to nature because we have built an artificial world that extracts from it.

2. Cultural Intelligence

In today’s global landscape, understanding and embracing diversity is non-negotiable. Cultural Intelligence allows leaders to see the interconnectedness of different customs, traditions, and belief systems.  The world is begging us to be more diverse, and in diversity through culture lies all the answers.  It is not only through travel but also through making friends who are different to you, don’t look like you, think like you, or believe differently to you.

3. Spiritual Intelligence 

This helps us to understand interconnectedness.  It is about our higher purpose, asking those existential questions, “Why am I here?” It is about purpose and integrity, intuition, and the moral compass. In modern careers, we have often hidden these parts of us, as it’s not welcome. We are spiritual beings having a human experience. Leaving this part of ourselves out of the equation stands in the way of the core of what it means to be authentic.  Remembering who you are, is what this journey is all about.

4. Collective Intelligence

Collective Intelligence is the ability to harness the power of collaboration, recognising that we all hold a piece of the puzzle. The key to being smart is the power of thinking and doing things together.

5. Learning Intelligence

Learning Intelligence is about staying curious—embracing what you don’t know, and being open to learning something new every day. How many times do we study something we actually know, rather than something we know nothing about? Leaning into the unknown takes courage.

6. Foresight Intelligence 

Foresight Intelligence helps you see beyond the present, preparing you for what’s next.  So many times futurists dictate to us where the future is going, but are we buying into that future or can we challenge it by all becoming our own futurists? We are all about patterns and recognising them. Use that in your favour.

7. Emotional Intelligence 

At the heart of it all is Emotional Intelligence—the ability to understand and manage your own emotions, while also tuning into the emotions of others. This builds trust, resilience, and connection.  Emotions are energy in motion, and it is the invisible exchange we make with our human counterparts.  Achieving emotional sovereignty and paying attention to our “Emotional Keyboards” is what ultimately will change the world and the core to achieving Authentic Intelligence.

A Future of Critical Thinkers Authentic Thinkers

Brené Brown says, “Leadership used to be about muscle. Today, it’s about the brain. But moving forward, it’s about heart.” We’re entering an era where Authentic Intelligence will be our most valuable asset. 

The world needs critical thinkers who aren’t afraid to challenge, push boundaries, and show up as their true selves. If you have the courage to be you, you have the courage to challenge the status quo. 

Critical thinking begins with Authentic Intelligence—creating environments where people feel safe enough to bring their whole selves to the table. It starts with us, leading with heart.

Authentic Intelligence isn’t just an idea—it’s the way forward. As AI evolves, so must we. Our ability to think critically, lead consciously, and act with purpose will set us apart. That’s how we’ll build the future.

ABOUT CARMEN MURRAY

Carmen Murray, founder of Carmen Murray Communications, has never shied away from daring to be different, and her distinct approach to problem-solving has been the foundation of her meteoric rise in the South African marketing landscape. Her journey, spanning continents, has established her as a leading figure in business, marketing, and communications. A champion of women’s empowerment, Carmen is the driving force behind Conscious LeadHERs, an initiative designed to help women break barriers and realise their full potential. With a background in premium service industries, she blends her expertise in Neuroscience with her passion for data science and digital content creation. Carmen holds postgraduate qualifications in systems thinking, change management, transformational leadership, and strategy. As a Numerologist and South Africa’s leading Netnographer, she provides businesses with a unique, interconnected perspective, helping them differentiate in today’s modern world. A torchbearer for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Carmen has been recognised as the Top Woman in Tech in Africa by Meltwater in 2019 and received the prestigious Black Pixel Award for best contribution to digital. She is also a renowned keynote speaker, panellist, and podcast host.

www.carmenmurray.com

www.carmenmurraycommunications.com