ChatGPT's New Creative Craze and How Boards Are Dealing with the Trend Reversal in ESG and DEI
Exploring ChatGPT's Creative Craze, McKinsey’s AI Insights, Essential AI Training for Boards, and the ESG and DEI Backlash in Global Boardrooms
In this issue of The AI Leadership Edge, I cover:
Key AI News for Leaders
Chat GPT’s Image Creation update sparks “Ghibli Style” Craze and ethical concerns
Top Insight of the Week
AI as the new competitive edge - insights from Mckinsey
AI Tool of the Week
Free AI courses for leaders and board directors
Directors' Corner
Rethinking climate goals in executives’ pay and global DEI practices
ChatGPT’s image creation update Sparks Viral "Studio Ghibli" Craze and Ethical Concerns
ChatGPT's latest image-generation update has sparked a viral craze by effortlessly recreating iconic Studio Ghibli animation styles by legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki. Social media quickly filled with AI-generated Ghibli-inspired portraits and memes, highlighting both the creative power and ethical challenges posed by AI technology.
Creatives have voiced concerns over AI mimicking artistic identities without consent, igniting a debate on copyright and the value of authentic human creativity.
Ghibli’s co-founder, Hayao Miyazaki, has long condemned AI-generated art, calling it an “insult to life itself.” With AI models learning from vast datasets, the question remains:
➡️ Is AI merely “inspired” by Ghibli’s work, or is it outright copying?
➡️ Do artists have control over how their styles are used?
➡️ Can AI-generated images be copyrighted, or does human creativity remain the core requirement?
AI as the New Competitive Edge: Insights from McKinsey
AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s now a competitive differentiator. Companies actively adopting AI are reporting clear improvements in efficiency, cost savings, and revenue growth. McKinsey’s latest State of AI survey highlights:
AI Adoption Is Scaling Fast: Over 75% of organizations now use AI in at least one function.
Leadership Matters: Companies with CEO-led AI governance report higher EBIT impact.
AI Risks Are Growing: Cybersecurity, IP protection, and regulatory compliance are top concerns.
Workforce Transformation: Organizations are retraining employees and hiring new AI talent.
Leadership takeaway: To maximize AI’s potential, executives should focus on active oversight, workflow redesign, and strategic talent management.
𝟰 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺s 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗜
Wharton, IBM and more are offering free AI courses designed for executives, board directors, and business leaders:
🎓 LinkedIn 𝘅 Microsoft: AI for Organizational Leaders
🎓 IBM: Generative AI for Executives & Business Leaders: An Introduction
🎓 The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania: AI for Business
🎓 Amazon Web Services (AWS): Generative AI for Decision Makers
Rethinking climate goals in executives’ pay and global DEI practices
The trend reversal in ESG and DEI has arrived in the boardroom. Last week there were several interesting articles how companies around the world are dealing with it:
Backtracking on Climate Incentives in executives’ pay: Major corporations are quietly removing climate-related performance targets from executive pay, responding to political pushback and cost pressures. Critics argue vague environmental goals have led to increased executive pay without meaningful ESG outcomes. (Financial Times)
Anti-woke’ in the U.S., DEI at home - the new playbook for European companies: European companies like Aldi and Banco Santander are adopting dual DEI strategies—maintaining strong diversity goals in the EU while scaling back in the U.S. amid growing anti-ESG sentiment. Investor-advisory firm ISS highlights this trend by discontinuing consideration of racial and gender composition for American boards, while continuing this practice in Europe. (Wall Street Journal)
Why it matters: Directors must navigate an increasingly complex ESG landscape, balancing stakeholder expectations, regulatory dynamics, and international cultural shifts. The evolving ESG approach directly impacts board oversight, corporate reputation, and strategic risk management.
Thanks for reading!
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Have a wonderful weekend.
Raffaela