Adam Smith of Tension – Navigating AI Disruption and Leading The Unknown

Welcome back Adam Smith, founder of Tension, a Toronto-based user experience firm.

It’s been about a year since our last conversation, and Adam Smith’s journey through the rise of AI, the shifting value of UX/UI, and the broader changes across creative and knowledge industries made us reflect more deeply on what we actually do—and how we define ourselves.

Adam describes how AI has drastically reduced the manual “effort hours” that once drove the bottom line in UX/UI work. Yet he insists that the real differentiator comes from human experience, intuition, and the scars earned from tackling messy problems. AI can prototype quickly, but it can’t replicate the nuanced understanding that comes from his decades in the industry.

Later in the episode, we get to the good stuff. Everyone, regardless of their job title, must face disruption head-on. You can’t wait for the new normal. The burden is on US to lead, question assumptions, and carve opportunities out of the unknown. Adam shares his own methods, including writing as a vehicle for self-discovery. He uses writing to process uncertainty, consider his audience, and reinforce the value of authenticity and connection. Something that AI just can’t do.

Entrepreneurship, in its purest form, is about being comfortable fumbling in the dark. It’s about having the courage not just to keep a business afloat, but to create, experiment, and occasionally fail. The ability to find and filter meaning, purpose, and contribution as the foundation for work is, we believe, now essential for anyone seeking to thrive as automation only gets better and better.

Adam Smith’s foray into entrepreneurship and disruption reminds us that tech may change how we work, but it doesn’t change why we work.

Find Adam Smith at Tension.

You can also follow him on LinkedIn.

If you enjoyed this episode, you should also check out:

Intentional Design with Adam Smith of Tension

Agile In Toronto At Night – Adam Smith

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