Designated Survivors: Negotiating Expertise, Executive Identities, and AI Imaginaries

The role of managerialism in contemporary society has often been presented in a monolithic manner, with the power of e.g. executives seen as difficult if not impossible to shift. However, we are currently seeing a technological shift that may challenge this quite simplistic notion, with the emergence of new technologies of automation presenting a novel situation for the assumption of management being a form of expertise. Consequently, this paper inquires into the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on the professional identities of top executives, focusing on those in C-suite roles within Nordic corporations. Drawing on an extensive set of interviews, the paper discusses how AI imaginaries are influencing executive discourses, and further examines the processes of identity negotiation among these actors, often identified as occupying an elite position in organizations. The findings suggest that the aforementioned imaginaries are both disruptive to held expert identities and seen as an opportunity for reconfiguring executive roles. On one hand, AI challenges traditional notions of executive authority, prompting top executives to adapt by incorporating specialized expertise, particularly in decision-making and leadership strategy. On the other hand, these adaptations generate tensions between embracing a more specialized role and resisting the erosion of their established leadership identities. The aim of this study has been to contribute to our understanding of the intersection of technology, identity, and power, emphasizing how top executives work to construct and sustain their professional roles amid technological uncertainty. It further addresses broader questions regarding how technological imaginaries reshape elite identities and highlights the political dynamics surrounding expertise and legitimacy in an AI-driven landscape.