Historically, physical strength and craftsmanship were key to success in the average person’s career. Then came the Industrial Revolution. Machines began replacing physical labour, and the value of intelligence and IQ rose sharply.
Today, we’re on the brink of another shift: AI is becoming more intelligent than humans. Understandably, many are concerned. After all, intelligence has become the defining trait of our species. But should it be?
I believe it’s time to reconsider what truly sets us apart.
AI may soon surpass human intelligence, but despite the widespread pessimism, I’m not ready to hand over the baton just yet. Maybe, just as we did during the Industrial Revolution, we place too much value on the importance of our intelligence, when we all possess something more powerful and less replicable by technology: emotional intelligence.
From IQ to EQ: Rethinking our human edge
Just as we once overestimated the value of physical labour, we may now be over-indexing on intellect. It is fair to say that the next frontier won’t be cognitive; it will be emotional. Emotional intelligence, often defined by traits such as empathy, intuition and trust-building, remains difficult to replicate and is, in many ways, more powerful than cognitive ability. These capabilities are the human differentiators in an AI-dominated era.
I don’t mean to downplay the impact of technological revolutions. The Industrial Revolution eliminated countless jobs, and this time will likely be no different. Many entry-level professional roles in data input, administrative tasks or other repeatable, automatable activities will end, as AI offers a simpler and cheaper solution. However, I also fundamentally believe in human adaptability. We’ve always found ways to adapt and add value, and we will again, this time by leaning into our emotional and relational strengths.
The human connection advantage
Of course, we need to acknowledge that AI is already capable of mimicking emotional outputs. People connect with AI through meaningful conversations, solving real-world problems with the aid of a supportive and seemingly all-knowing third party. But anyone who has used AI as a counsellor knows the advice can sometimes be shallow, or worse, dangerously misguided. Unlike humans, AI can’t be held accountable in the same way, nor can it truly understand the nuances of lived experience.
Moreover, AI reflects the data it’s trained on. It leans heavily toward mainstream perspectives, often mirroring the biases of its creators. This makes original thinking, contrarian views and disruptive innovation difficult for AI to achieve. (That said, this may change as models evolve, but for now, the constraint is real.)
Whilst this is the current state of play, we cannot predict how AI will develop over time. What we do know is that humans will always be better at understanding other humans. AI can process facts, but it doesn’t observe the world. It doesn’t live through experiences or apply personal insight to help others. Much of human understanding comes not just from information, but from context, empathy and connection, traits rooted in emotion, not computation.
To sum up
This shift from IQ to EQ will reshape the labour market. It will, for instance, increasingly shape how companies hire. Emotional intelligence, once viewed as a ‘nice to have’, will become a core skill. The ability to build trust, communicate clearly and relate to others will be valued more than tasks that can now be automated. While this is already visible in senior roles, it will extend to junior positions as well, roles that were previously valued for execution. And as the need for connection across cultures, generations and backgrounds grows, we’re likely to see a more diverse and inclusive workforce, one that reflects the complexity of the world we’re building for.
What truly sets us apart from machines is our capacity to connect, to relate and to care. If we’re looking for a silver lining in the AI transition, it’s this: we have the ability to reinvent ourselves, again and again. Leading with the heart through emotional intelligence may be the strength and muscle we lean into next, or perhaps another hidden human trait we’ve yet to fully appreciate. Either way, we’ll find it.
