Human First – Why We Think This Way at Definely

One of humanity’s greatest strengths – our superpower – is our ability to each think differently. This ability has always been grounded in collaboration and the support we offer one another. For me, there isn’t a single day that I don’t rely on someone’s insight – whether from my wife, a colleague, or even a stranger. It’s taught me that real problem-solving happens in partnership. My co-founder, Nnamdi, shares this view. We connected at a law firm, united by a belief that we could help each other succeed, both personally and professionally.

Recently, I came across Ian Leslie’s Orangutan Theory of Intelligence, and it reinforced these values that I’ve carried throughout my life. Leslie argues that humans understand ideas better simply by talking them out, even to an unresponsive listener like an orangutan. This insight speaks to why we emphasise Human First as a core value at Definely: we believe that articulating ideas, sharing perspectives, and listening to each other helps refine our understanding, spark new ideas and develop innovative solutions. This isn’t just a way to solve problems; it’s a way to see them from fresh angles, reveal insights we might otherwise miss, and build stronger, more impactful solutions.

Our commitment to “Human First” also shapes the way we build products. While AI is exceptional at processing data and recognising patterns, human strengths – like critical thinking, empathy, and adaptability – are essential for contextual understanding and ethical judgment. This balance between human insight and machine efficiency is core to our design philosophy. For example, when lawyers work with our tools, AI manages repetitive tasks and surfaces insights, but it’s the lawyer who uses judgment, interprets, contextualises, and applies these findings with their unique expertise.

We see AI not as a replacement for human ingenuity but as a powerful complement to it. By automating the heavy lifting, AI allows people to focus on what they do best: thinking critically, adapting, and bringing nuance and empathy to complex situations. This human-centred approach is at the heart of why we value diverse thinking and collaboration at Definely. Just as Ian Leslie’s Orangutan Theory suggests, it’s by sharing ideas, refining them together, and thinking aloud that we generate the insights that truly drive meaningful progress. AI may support us in the background, but it’s the human touch that makes all the difference in creating solutions that are impactful and valuable.