The Last Human Leader

2. The First Test

Claire kept walking, her thoughts drifting back to her early days at NeuraCorp. She had joined the company in 2025 as a freshly minted Marketing Manager, after years of internships and entry-level roles. Those first days still felt vivid in her memory: the electric atmosphere, the brilliant yet warm colleagues, and the thrill of working at the cutting edge of technology.

Even as a marketer at heart, Claire had always harbored a passion for tech, and NeuraCorp felt like the perfect fusion of both worlds. From the moment she stepped into the office, she felt as though the future had opened itself to her. The company celebrated innovation — engineers were admired like rock stars, hackathons were the highlight of the year, and the afterparties... well, those were the stuff of legend.

She could still recall the arrival of artificial intelligence into their workflows. At first, it was a novelty, a curiosity to toy with. Journalists heralded it as revolutionary, but for most employees, it seemed like a fancy gadget. Sure, it could save a bit of time here and there, but it often felt like they wasted more time crafting the "perfect prompt" than actually using it.

That all changed when the CEO took the stage at an all-hands meeting and announced a bold initiative: every employee would be trained in AI through the world's leading artificial intelligence academy. It wasn't optional. Claire was skeptical at first, but by the end of the program, she had seen the iceberg beneath the surface. The media had only scratched at what AI could do. For marketing and many other fields, the potential was staggering.

After the training, Claire began to use AI in her daily tasks. At first, it was small things — translating emails, tweaking presentations — but it quickly became an obsession. She found herself relying on it more and more, using it to brainstorm ideas, analyze campaigns, and even craft strategy documents.

Her efforts didn't go unnoticed. Within months, her results outshone those of her peers. She was twice as productive in half the time, offloading administrative tasks to her AI assistant while using its insights to craft highly creative campaigns. By 2027, less than two years after joining NeuraCorp, she was promoted to Global Marketing & Digital Director. At barely 30, she led a team of 14 — a remarkable achievement in its own right.

Claire had a knack for treating the AI assistant as a true team member. While others saw it as a tool, she gave it space to shine, integrating it fully into her workflows. She became the first director in the company to treat AI as a resource on par with human talent.

Then came the day that changed everything.

Claire had been summoned to a one-on-one meeting with the CEO himself. It wasn't unusual for him to take an interest in her department — marketing was the public face of the company — but there was something different in his tone that day.

"Claire," he began, his voice warm but direct, "the world is moving so quickly with AI. Here at NeuraCorp, we're at the forefront of neuroscience, and we're on the verge of launching our next breakthrough. I don't want us to lose momentum."

Claire smiled. "I haven't noticed any slowdown on my end," she replied. "My team is perfectly — "

He interrupted her, leaning forward. "Yes, your team. That's exactly what I want to discuss. You know, our competitor, Cognis Systems, has already automated 50% of their marketing team with AI. I've heard incredible things about their efficiency."

Claire felt the weight of his words settling in. She knew where this was going, and she didn't like it.

"I've heard the same," she said carefully. "But I believe the future lies in collaboration between humans and machines. Full automation isn't — "

He cut her off again, his voice taking on a persuasive tone. "That's exactly what I'm saying, Claire. A balance — 50% machines, 50% humans. You've been one of our most forward-thinking directors, embracing AI from the start. That's why I want your team to be the test case. If it works, you'll be at the forefront of the next big initiative. Promotions, opportunities... they'll be yours. I trust you completely with this project."

Claire hesitated. "Fifty percent? That's seven people. What do I tell them? They've worked tirelessly — "

The CEO waved her concern away like a trivial inconvenience. "That's an operational issue. Speak to HR and your supervisor. This is about the future, Claire. And you'll lead the way."

The memory sent a shiver down Claire's spine — or perhaps it was the eerie stillness of the streets tonight, amplified by the sterile quiet of her building's entrance, now guarded by a holographic concierge. Whatever the reason, the warmth she had once felt for NeuraCorp was slipping away, replaced by a creeping unease.

Fifty percent machines, fifty percent humans. The words echoed in her mind as she swiped her access card and stepped into the lobby.

What had once been a team built on camaraderie and shared vision was now a battlefield for survival, humans pitted against machines in a silent competition. Claire had embraced AI, but now she wondered: Had she gone too far?

As the elevator doors slid shut, she glanced at her reflection in the metallic walls. It was subtle, but the look in her eyes had changed. For the first time, she wasn't sure if she was leading her team — or if the machines were leading her.