With AI on the rise, Liberating Structures matter more than ever

With The Liberators, Christiaan Verwijs and I have always gone our own way. We’ve deliberately chosen not to have shareholders, investors, or employees; it’s just the two of us. That can be challenging; there are limits to what two people can do. But it also comes with significant advantages.

One of them is the freedom to sail our own course. One we believe in, not because “that’s what the market wants” or “that’s where the money is.” 💰

We believe in Columinity — a product that helps teams and organizations improve through conversations grounded in data and scientific insights.

We believe in Action Research — a systematic approach to problem-solving where scientists and practitioners work together to gather and analyze data, identify improvements, and implement them iteratively.

We also believe both Columinity and Action Research are powerful tools for Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches, and anyone committed to improving team and organizational effectiveness.

And with the rise of AI, we’ve come to believe in something else even more strongly. Something we’ve already been practicing for years, but feels more vital than ever:

Liberating Structures! 🥳

These simple techniques create conversations where every voice counts, something no algorithm can replicate. AI can generate answers in seconds, but it can’t build trust, spark genuine creativity, or create shared ownership. It can’t help a group discover what they truly care about, give quieter voices equal weight, or turn uncertainty into a shared plan of action.

Liberating Structures make all of this possible by creating space where everyone can contribute, learn from each other, and shape the outcome.

To be clear, I’m not anti-AI. But I am mindful of how we use it, and I see a growing need for *real* conversations. Conversations where trust grows, creativity flows, and everyone has a voice. That’s precisely what Liberating Structures make possible.

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In a world rushing toward the artificial, 
Let’s not forget the power of the human.
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That’s why, alongside our work on Columinity (which already has Liberating Structures woven in), we’ll keep hosting a variety of Liberating Structures workshops.

Check our Eventbrite page for upcoming sessions: 
✅ 15/16 December: Liberating Structures Immersion Workshop (2 days)
✅ 10 February: Liberating Structures Design Workshop (1 day)

How do you see the role of Liberating Structures in a world increasingly shaped by AI? What’s one thing you think AI will never replace?