That was the central thesis delivered by Neil Redding, an innovation architect and strategic corporate advisor, during his keynote address at Rio Innovation Week 2026. In his presentation, titled “Orchestrate or Become Obsolete: Leading the Near Future Driven by AI,” Mr. Redding challenged the traditional corporate hierarchy. It has become an active participant,” Mr. Redding told the audience. By integrating strategic documents, meeting histories, and client data into a continuous context, AI can be more effectively guided. Despite the increasing autonomy of these intelligent systems, Mr. Redding emphasized that human leadership remains indispensable.