Gregory MacLennan on why AI still needs a human in the loop

AI can deliver real business value, but companies need more than licences and hype to turn the technology into measurable returns.

Gregory MacLennan, CEO of Digicloud Africa, explains how South African businesses can adopt AI practically, using tools such as Gemini in Google Workspace without requiring large specialist teams.

He discusses how Gemini can support everyday work across Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Slides, including multilingual communication, research, and decision-making. MacLennan also explains why AI should augment employees rather than replace human judgement, particularly when information is being sent externally or important decisions are being made.

The conversation also tackles cybersecurity and data governance. MacLennan warns that employees using unapproved public AI tools can expose sensitive corporate information, making standardisation, education, and responsible AI policies increasingly important.

He also explains why effective change management is essential when rolling AI out across different departments, and why the next phase of AI adoption will depend heavily on how well people learn to use the technology.

0:00 Intro

1:12 Turning AI hype into business value

2:21 Gemini inside Google Workspace

4:13 Breaking down language barriers

6:36 Why humans must stay in the loop

8:39 AI security and data risks

13:01 Using AI for better decisions