Ep. 9 – Why Human Change Is the Hardest Part of the AI Transformation – with Ryan Simmons

AI can give you answers instantly. But what if your people lose the ability to question them?Host James Weier speaks to Ryan Simmons, Vice President of Human Resources at Colorado College, about why AI transformation is less about technology and more about how work is designed. As organizations rush to automate tasks and increase productivity, a deeper risk emerges: the erosion of critical thinking, judgment, and capability development. Ryan shares how AI is reshaping skill development, why removing “learning steps” weakens future expertise, and how HR leaders can redesign work so automation strengthens human decision-making, instead of replacing it. From higher education to enterprise environments, this conversation reframes AI adoption as a human systems challenge with long-term implications for workforce capability.You’ll learn:1. Why faster output from AI can weaken critical thinking over time2. How removing early-career tasks impacts long-term skill development3. Why AI forces leaders to redesign roles, not just optimize tasks4. Why AI should be treated as a tool instead of a source of truth5. How to design workflows that strengthen judgment, not replace it___________Ryan Simmons is open to connecting about AI, work design, and HR leadership.Reach out to him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-l-simmons/___________About the host James Weier:James is Director, US at EGYM Wellpass and President of the Denver chapter of the Level Up HR Community. With 10 years of experience and a degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, James brings a collaborative, community-focused approach to his work. When he’s not elevating employee experience or strengthening HR leadership, James enjoys spending time with his wife and their two young boys in Colorado’s great outdoors.Get in touch with James Weier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesweier/