How can you stay composed, exercise discernment, and remain human in the face of the AI revolution?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) fascinates and concerns in equal measure. For SME leaders, it often triggers feelings of losing control, rising complexity, and rapid change. Many struggle to keep pace. But beyond tools and algorithms, what we need most is a shift in posture.
This is where stoicism comes in. Re-popularised by authors like Ryan Holiday, this ancient philosophy feels surprisingly relevant today. It’s pragmatic and timeless. It offers a mental framework to face uncertainty with calm and clarity. Digital Stoicism thus provides a precious compass for navigating the technological storm with lucidity.
Navigating AI anxiety with stoicism
With AI rising fast, many SME leaders and teams experience anxiety and confusion. They face a flood of possibilities and perceived threats.
Stoicism, which cultivates equanimity in the face of change and uncertainty, rests on one core principle: the dichotomy of control. It teaches us to distinguish between what depends on us (our thoughts, choices, and actions) and what does not (technological developments, market movements, other people’s decisions).
For SME leaders, this means recognising that they cannot control the emergence of new AI tools or market shifts. But they can decide how to prepare for them. They can train their teams and adapt their organisations to respond with agility. This clarity strengthens the feeling of agency, reduces anxiety, and helps focus energy on what can truly be transformed within the business.
AI literacy: a modern essential skill
Today, mastering the basics of AI is becoming as crucial as literacy was in the past.
AI literacy is not just about technical skills. It embodies a commitment to continuous learning, aligned with the stoic principles of practical wisdom and cognitive adaptability.
Mastering “prompt engineering”, the art of communicating effectively with AI, is also crucial. It echoes the stoic principle of precision and conciseness in speech. In a world where everyone must learn to prompt quickly and well, the stoic advice remains relevant: “Speak only if it improves upon the silence.” (Epictetus).
By adopting these competencies, SME teams improve their operational efficiency. At the same time, they also strengthen their personal resilience in the face of rapid technological change.
Digital humanism: re-centring technology on humans
Adopting AI without discernment often leads to cognitive overload and a loss of meaning in work.
During the Renaissance, humanists, among them Montaigne, rediscovered Stoicism as a tool for everyday wisdom. Today, that same wisdom invites us to place human values back at the centre of our technological choices.
For SMEs, this means using AI to strengthen team skills, lighten repetitive tasks, and free up time for more human and creative interactions. It’s not about chasing every new trend. But it’s about choosing, with discernment, the AI uses that genuinely enrich the human experience at work and support a responsible, sustainable corporate culture.
In conclusion, as Marcus Aurelius reminded us: « Grant me the strength to endure what cannot be changed, the courage to change what can, and the wisdom to distinguish one from the other. »
And you, as an SME leader or actor, where will you focus your energy this week? This stoic filter can transform a storm of uncertainty into a clear, assertive strategy.
