As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform industries by automating tasks and changing the way we work and learn, the importance of human intelligence has never been greater. In business, and learning and development, AI is demonstrating it can enhance efficiency; however, it is not able to replicate the uniquely human qualities that drive innovation, leadership, and adaptability.
Many business leaders recognize that human intelligence remains a competitive advantage. The key question and challenge inside organizations today is how they can develop this intelligence alongside AI, and which skills leaders should prioritize to work to try to future-ready their workforce.
The presence of AI in our working lives is both inevitable and exciting. I personally use various generative tools to help organize and articulate my thoughts, including the notes I prepared for this article. Additionally, the pace of change is immense; by the time you read this article, the next big development is already here. In the AI release wars, we’re operating on a scale of days, not months.
AI as an Accelerator, Not a Replacement
AI is promising to transform industries by automating repetitive tasks and enhancing decision-making. However, it lacks key human traits: intuition, creativity, and ethical judgment.
As early as 2021, Harvard Business Review argued that AI should augment, not replace, human intelligence. David De Cremer and Garry Kasparov wrote:
"The question of whether AI will replace human workers assumes that AI and humans have the same qualities and abilities, but, in reality, they don’t. AI-based machines are fast, more accurate, and consistently rational, but they aren’t intuitive, emotional, or culturally sensitive. And it’s exactly these abilities that humans possess and which make us effective."
The true value in the future will come from the collaboration between AI and human intelligence, rather than AI operating independently. For example, AI can assist but cannot fully substitute for human input in areas like vibe coding. A recent New York Times article, Not a Coder? With A.I., Just Having an Idea Can Be Enough, illustrates the importance of human creativity combined with AI support. The idea is still human centered.
It’s important to recognize that not all generative AI tools are equally powerful or suitable for every task, nor can they all be trusted. Many current tools require users to provide their information to services that have yet to be proven reliable in completing tasks on their behalf. It’s still not uncommon for a generative Ai response to provide you with statistics, but also be unable to provide the source, or worse yet, show a source that doesn’t actually have the statistics it quoted.
The Unique Power of Human Intelligence
While AI can generate insights, humans must apply critical thinking and judgment to interpret and use them effectively. Emotional intelligence and leadership remain firmly in the human domain—AI cannot inspire, build trust, or navigate complex interpersonal dynamics. Simply put, it can’t “read the room”. Furthermore, in an environment where AI is evolving rapidly, our ability to learn, unlearn, and adapt gives humans a lasting advantage.
AI excels at automating tasks, processing large datasets, and generating content at scale. However, AI consistently falls short when it comes to complex problem-solving and original creative work. It can replicate patterns, but it lacks true creativity, contextual understanding, and the ability to challenge assumptions. It can certainly give you ideas, but you are the evaluator, judge, and decision-maker.
Ethan Mollick recently shared an example involving Manus, a newly released Chinese general AI agent. He asked it to “create an interactive course on elevator pitches using the best academic advice.” The AI produced a full course; impressive at first glance, covering the fundamentals without obvious errors. Yet, as an experienced educator, Mollick quickly noticed shortcomings: the content was too text-heavy and lacked opportunities for knowledge checks or interactive learning.
When prompted to “add interactive experiences and links to high-quality videos,” the AI improved the course. This example shows that while AI can handle structured creative work with minimal guidance, it struggles with more complex tasks that require nuanced expertise.
Mollick reflected that his role constantly shifted depending on the situation—sometimes acting as a creative director, other times as a troubleshooter or subject-matter expert. The quality of the final output was directly tied to the level of human expertise involved. Work is changing, and we are still learning how to balance human intelligence with AI capabilities.
The Future of Work: What Skills Matter Most?
As technology continues to advance, there is a noticeable shift from emphasizing purely “hard skills” to prioritizing “human skills” such as leadership, storytelling, collaboration, and ethical decision-making. These abilities, which are grounded in empathy, judgment, and communication, are challenging for AI to replicate and will be vital in an increasingly automated world.
According to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Future of Jobs Report, workers can expect that, on average, 39% of their existing skill sets will be transformed or become outdated by 2030. However, it considers skills like critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and adaptability to be “AI-proof” and increasingly essential as technology reshapes various industries.
The report indicates that analytical thinking is the most sought-after core skill among employers, with 70% of companies considering it essential in 2025. Other important skills include resilience, flexibility, agility, leadership, and social influence.
While technical skills may evolve, human skills remain constant. Therefore, employers are already working to shift their focus on hiring individuals with skills that lead to success and adaptability.
Reimagining Learning & Development in the AI Era
Businesses must rethink their learning and development strategies to emphasise human strengths. While AI can deliver scalable training, it is live, expert-led learning that fosters deep engagement and meaningful professional growth. Take AI driven coaching for leaders as an example. I recently spoke to several L&D leaders who see it as a valuable and meaningful method to leverage in their organization. But most importantly, they didn’t really see it replacing the leader development experiences they already have in place. Instead, they saw it as a complement, a reinforcer, of the concepts learned in workshops. Again, assistive, not replacing.
Forward-thinking companies will blend AI-powered tools with live, interactive experiences to create more effective and dynamic L&D programs. As Ethan Mollick writes in his 2024 book Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI, the best results come from collaborating with AI systems, which still operate within a "jagged frontier" of uneven capabilities.
Human Intelligence as a Competitive Advantage
Organizations that combine human intelligence with AI adoption will outperform those that rely solely on automation. Curiosity, creativity, and resilience will be essential traits for the next generation of business leaders.
To thrive, companies need to foster cultures of continuous learning, integrating the power of AI with the unique contributions of human expertise. While AI will be a transformative force, it is human intelligence that will drive true innovation and resilience in businesses. The future will belong to those who can balance cutting-edge technology with the irreplaceable value of human insight, creativity, and leadership.
