We’re Building the Titanic of AI: Jess Von Bank (LIVE @ Unleash 2026)
WATCH: https://youtu.be/pzhXicl6Al8
Live from UNLEASH 2026, Adam sits down with Jess Von Bank for a thought-provoking and at times provocative conversation on AI, transformation, and the future of work. Jess began her career as a full-desk executive recruiter, specializing in highly niche, hard-to-fill roles in pharmaceutical and clinical research—long before modern sourcing tools existed. Her foundation in true “old school” recruiting—research, persistence, and deep human understanding—anchors her perspective today.
At the center of this conversation is a critical distinction most organizations are missing: AI is not transforming work. It’s scaling whatever already exists. And that’s the problem. Jess challenges the current “AI land grab,” in which companies are rushing to layer automation onto broken or outdated processes rather than rethinking how work should be done altogether. In her view, most organizations are simply doing the same work faster—not better—and leaving massive value on the table. Jess offers a striking metaphor for the current moment: We are “building the Titanic in plain sight”—creating powerful systems while fully aware of the risks, yet continuing forward without fully addressing them. At the same time, she brings a grounded sense of optimism. AI is accelerating the breakdown of outdated systems—forcing necessary conversations about education, workforce development, and how we prepare people for the future. This episode is less about tools—and more about thinking differently.
Connect with Jess: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessvonbank/
These episodes of #thePOZcast, live from Unleash 2026 in Las Vegas, are proudly brought to you by our friends at PIN. AI recruiting tools that automate candidate sourcing, screening, and scheduling across 850M+ profiles. Built for recruiters, agencies, and hiring teams.
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Jess Von Bank is a globally recognized voice on the future of work, AI, and workforce transformation, advising enterprise leaders on how to responsibly integrate AI and emerging technologies into the fabric of work. With more than 23 years in talent and HR technology, Jess has spent her career at the intersection of business strategy, digital transformation, and human experience. She is known for translating complex technology trends into plainspoken insight that leaders can actually use.
A sought-after voice in the future of work, Jess challenges organizations to move beyond AI hype toward agency, accountability, and human-centered design. Her perspective is rooted not only in enterprise transformation but in lived experience as a mother of daughters, a nonprofit leader, and an advocate for women’s leadership and equitable, human systems in which everyone can thrive.
TAKEAWAYS:
- AI doesn’t transform work—it scales existing systems (good or bad)
- Most companies are optimizing old workflows instead of reimagining new ones
- True transformation requires new thinking, not just new tools
- Institutional knowledge and human judgment remain critical differentiators
- Resistance to AI is often less about capability and more about forced adoption
- The future of work conversation is bigger than recruiting—it’s societal
- AI is accelerating necessary disruption in education, workforce development, and economic models
- The biggest opportunity right now is not efficiency—it’s redesign
01:00 Intro to Jess Von Bank
02:30 Early recruiting days (pre-LinkedIn sourcing)
05:00 “Old school” recruiting vs modern tools
07:30 The art of understanding candidate motivation
10:00 Technology in recruiting: good, bad, and ugly
12:00 The biggest mistake with AI today
14:00 “AI scales what you put it on” explained
16:00 Automation vs true transformation
18:00 Why “faster” doesn’t mean “better”
20:00 Rethinking workflows instead of optimizing them
22:00 Institutional knowledge vs AI capabilities
24:00 Teaching experienced professionals new ways of working
26:00 Generational perspectives on AI adoption
28:00 Psychological reactance and resistance to change
30:00 The “AI will take jobs” debate
32:00 “We’re building the Titanic in plain sight”
35:00 The real risks vs the hype
37:00 What AI is actually breaking (and why that’s good)
39:00 Rethinking education and workforce development
41:00 Optimism: what’s moving in the right direction
43:00 Closing thoughts + where to connect
