Human Value in the Age of AI: Why Humans Are Still Essential

5 min readJul 1, 2024

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to advance, there’s a growing concern that machines will outshine humans in every aspect, rendering us obsolete. However, the reality is that humans will remain indispensable in many ways. AI is a force that requires rethinking. As a friend of mine, Freddy Collier, recently said, “AI makes us bionic.” Yes — take the new technology, and make yourself better, stronger, and faster with it.

AI may transform our jobs and industries, but it will also amplify our uniquely human qualities. Here’s why humans will still be valuable in the era of AI.

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1. Emotional Intelligence and Empathy

AI excels at processing data and performing repetitive tasks, but it lacks emotional intelligence. Human empathy, compassion, and emotional understanding are crucial in fields like healthcare, counseling, and customer service. According to a study by the World Economic Forum, emotional intelligence will be one of the top 10 job skills in 2025, essential for roles that require human interaction.

2. Creativity and Innovation

AI can analyze patterns and generate content based on existing data, but it cannot originate truly novel ideas. Human creativity drives innovation in art, literature, music, and scientific research. The McKinsey Global Institute highlights that jobs requiring creativity are less likely to be automated, as they depend heavily on human ingenuity and the ability to generate original ideas.

3. Ethical Decision-Making

AI operates within the parameters set by its programming, but ethical decision-making often requires nuanced understanding and moral judgment that only humans can provide. A survey by PwC found that 85% of CEOs believe that AI-driven decisions need to be closely monitored to ensure they are ethical and do not reinforce existing biases.

4. Adaptability and Learning

Humans are inherently adaptable and capable of learning new skills quickly in response to changing environments. The World Economic Forum reports that 94% of business leaders expect employees to pick up new skills on the job by 2025, and AI can make that happen easily for employees.

5. Interpersonal Relationships and Communication

Building and maintaining relationships is a fundamentally human skill. Effective communication and relationship-building are crucial in business negotiations, team collaborations, and teaching. AI can assist by providing data-driven insights, but the human touch is essential for fostering trust and understanding. The National Bureau of Economic Research found that jobs requiring high levels of social interaction are less susceptible to automation.

6. Complex Problem-Solving

AI can process and analyze large volumes of data to identify patterns, but complex problem-solving often requires a holistic understanding of context, creativity, and critical thinking. The McKinsey Global Institute notes that complex problem-solving is a critical skill that will remain in demand, as it involves integrating diverse perspectives and thinking outside the box to develop innovative solutions.

7. Leadership and Vision

Leadership involves inspiring and guiding others towards a common goal, a role that requires vision, motivation, and the ability to connect with people on a personal level. In 2024, Gartner predicts that 20% of business content will be authored by machines, but human leaders will still be essential for setting strategic directions and motivating teams but human leaders will still be essential for setting strategic directions and motivating teams.

8. Cultural and Contextual Understanding

Humans possess a deep understanding of cultural norms, values, and historical contexts that AI lacks. This cultural competence is vital in global interactions, diplomacy, marketing, and content creation. Humans can interpret and respond to cultural nuances that are beyond the reach of current AI capabilities. According to a report by Deloitte, human insight into cultural and contextual factors will remain crucial in the era of AI.

Conclusion

In the era of AI, humans will continue to play a crucial role by leveraging our unique qualities that machines cannot replicate. Emotional intelligence, creativity, ethical judgment, adaptability, interpersonal skills, complex problem-solving, leadership, and cultural understanding are areas where humans excel and will remain invaluable.

Rather than viewing AI as a threat, we should embrace it as a powerful tool that can augment our abilities and free us from mundane tasks, allowing us to focus on what we do best. By recognizing and honing these uniquely human skills, we can ensure our continued relevance and value in an increasingly AI-driven world.

In fact, my nonprofit, Resourceful Nonprofit, has had a mission since 2016 to use technology to free up human time for the things only humans can do.

As we move forward, staying informed and proactive about the changes AI brings to the workplace will be crucial. Embrace the future of work with confidence, knowing that AI is here to augment, not replace.

Interested in AI? Please check out my Wiley book, Empower Your Nonprofit: Simple Ways to Co-Create with AI for Profound Impact, due to be released November 13, 2024.