Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Could AI transformation be exhausting humans rather than optimizing their performance?
As artificial intelligence transforms how we work, organizations face a new challenge: protecting brain health and ensuring employees have the skills to cope with the cognitive demands of technology.
On this episode of The McKinsey Podcast, McKinsey Partners Erica Coe and Kana Enomoto and McKinsey Health Institute Senior Fellow Jacqueline Brassey explain what brain capital is and why it's becoming a key competitive advantage in the age of AI. Then, they break down how leaders can build healthier, more adaptable, and higher-performing organizations.
Plus: McKinsey Senior Partner Shubham Singhal answers audience questions on geopolitics, trade rewiring, and the China/US technological divide in the age of AI.
*Chapters:*
00:00 – Introduction
01:05 – How mental health impacts the economy
02:19 – What is brain capital? And why is it important?
03:38– Five levers to strengthen brain skills
07:50 – Three actions leaders can take
09:36 – “Brain-positive” leadership during an AI transformation
12:06 – Why leaders invest in brain capital
13:20 – Q&A: AI, geopolitics, and trade
13:49 – Are we in a period of deglobalization?
15:08 – How does AI affect geopolitical dynamics?
16:35 – Should leaders reconfigure manufacturing supply chains?
17:37 – How are imports affected by dependencies?
20:34 – Are these changes secular or cyclical?
Read the full report: mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/the-human-advantage-stronger-brains-in-the-age-of-ai
The McKinsey Podcast is cohosted by Lucia Rahilly and Roberta Fusaro.
About the guests:
- McKinsey Partner Erica Coe: mckinsey.com/our-people/erica-coe
- McKinsey Partner Kana Enomoto: mckinsey.com/our-people/kana-enomoto
- McKinsey Health Institute Senior Fellow Jacqueline Brassey: mckinsey.com/our-people/jacqueline-brassey
- McKinsey Senior Partner Shubham Singhal: mckinsey.com/our-people/shubham-singhal
Subscribe to our channel: mck.co/YouTube
Subscribe to our newsletters: mck.co/Subscribe
*Find us on:*
Facebook: mck.co/Facebook
Twitter: mck.co/Twitter
LinkedIn: mck.co/LinkedIn
Instagram: mck.co/Instagram
Any unanswered questions about this episode? Send them our way at: TheMcKinseyPodcast@mckinsey.com
See mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information.
Could AI transformation be exhausting humans rather than optimizing their performance?
As artificial intelligence transforms how we work, organizations face a new challenge: protecting brain health and ensuring employees have the skills to cope with the cognitive demands of technology.
On this episode of The McKinsey Podcast, McKinsey Partners Erica Coe and Kana Enomoto and McKinsey Health Institute Senior Fellow Jacqueline Brassey explain what brain capital is and why it's becoming a key competitive advantage in the age of AI. Then, they break down how leaders can build healthier, more adaptable, and higher-performing organizations.
Plus: McKinsey Senior Partner Shubham Singhal answers audience questions on geopolitics, trade rewiring, and the China/US technological divide in the age of AI.
*Chapters:*
00:00 – Introduction
01:05 – How mental health impacts the economy
02:19 – What is brain capital? And why is it important?
03:38– Five levers to strengthen brain skills
07:50 – Three actions leaders can take
09:36 – “Brain-positive” leadership during an AI transformation
12:06 – Why leaders invest in brain capital
13:20 – Q&A: AI, geopolitics, and trade
13:49 – Are we in a period of deglobalization?
15:08 – How does AI affect geopolitical dynamics?
16:35 – Should leaders reconfigure manufacturing supply chains?
17:37 – How are imports affected by dependencies?
20:34 – Are these changes secular or cyclical?
Read the full report: mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/the-human-advantage-stronger-brains-in-the-age-of-ai
The McKinsey Podcast is cohosted by Lucia Rahilly and Roberta Fusaro.
About the guests:
- McKinsey Partner Erica Coe: mckinsey.com/our-people/erica-coe
- McKinsey Partner Kana Enomoto: mckinsey.com/our-people/kana-enomoto
- McKinsey Health Institute Senior Fellow Jacqueline Brassey: mckinsey.com/our-people/jacqueline-brassey
- McKinsey Senior Partner Shubham Singhal: mckinsey.com/our-people/shubham-singhal
Subscribe to our channel: mck.co/YouTube
Subscribe to our newsletters: mck.co/Subscribe
*Find us on:*
Facebook: mck.co/Facebook
Twitter: mck.co/Twitter
LinkedIn: mck.co/LinkedIn
Instagram: mck.co/Instagram
Any unanswered questions about this episode? Send them our way at: TheMcKinseyPodcast@mckinsey.com
See mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information.
