CEO Of $8-B U.S. Food Company: Depending On AI Alone Is A "Recipe For Failure"

As tech giants lay off thousands of workers to make way for AI, the CEO of the $8-billion food company Ingredion says real people remain the most important ingredient for a successful business.

While Ingredion has embraced AI to predict supply chain issues, refine recipe formulations, and ensure regulatory compliance, Zallie warned that losing focus on people and culture could backfire. I Photo: Ingredion

Not having a human-centered approach is a “recipe for failure,” says Fortune 500 CEO James Zallie, Preston Fore reported for Fortune.

AI is already leaving its mark on corporate America, with tech layoffs reaching 75,000 this year alone as companies brace for a future where AI may rival humans in just five years.

While that shift fuels both excitement about a shorter workweek and fears of an AI-dominated future, Zallie—chief executive of the Fortune 500 food ingredient company—has a clear message: people and culture still come first.

“If you take your eye off either the customer or the employee and get too internally focused, it’s a recipe for failure,” Zallie said on the Inside the ICE House podcast, hosted by the New York Stock Exchange’s parent company.

While Ingredion has embraced AI to predict supply chain issues, refine recipe formulations, and ensure regulatory compliance, Zallie warned that losing focus on people and culture could backfire.

“I think in society today, if you don’t have a strong culture, your business will suffer. And if you don’t focus on people, you will also,” he added. “People will see through whether you’re really living your values and whether you care for people in general.”