Dr. Gleb Tsipursky – The Office Whisperer
Nirit Cohen – WorkFutures
Angela Howard – Culture Expert
Drew Jones – Design & Innovation
Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
- Emotional intelligence (EQ) contributes to 58% of job performance, and 90% of top performers possess high levels of EQ — something robots can’t replicate.
- 66% of business leaders consider AI skills essential for hiring, yet only 25% of companies worldwide offer AI training; more may need to consider doing so.
- Instead of replacing workers, experts feel as though AI is more likely to enhance human abilities, supercharging productivity and creativity.
Whether AI impacts people by taking their job entirely, or augmenting it so that their job is easier, workers know that the technology is coming for them: ADP Research shows 85% of workers think AI will affect their job in the next few years.
But AI isn’t some sentient force forcing its way into our lives — at least, not yet. Instead, big tech companies are framing AI as a necessary advancement for society, pushing the narrative that it’s happening, whether we embrace it or not.
As AI and automation rewrite the rules of work, one thing is clear: resisting change is no longer a choice — the question becomes how we reshape the workforce to embrace it.
The London Business School hosted the “Think Ahead — The Workforce Shift: Adapting to Ageing, Automation, and AI” webinar that explored the heart of this challenge: can we shift mindsets across age groups, cultures, and skill levels fast enough to stay relevant?
The Future of Work: Embracing Technology, Demographics, and Human Intelligence
One of the speakers, Lynda Gratton, Professor of Management Practice in Organizational Behavior at The London Business School, said generative AI has the potential to act as a “great leveler,” providing opportunities across different geographical regions and time zones.
However, when demographics are taken into account, the implications of AI become more nuanced.
For example, Japan, a country with an aging population, faces unique challenges when it comes to technology and AI. The key issues here are not about replacing jobs but about encouraging lifelong learning and upskilling, especially among older generations.
In contrast, countries like Nigeria, with a burgeoning young population and coworking industry, face a different set of challenges. The focus here is on providing connectivity and opportunities for the younger demographic, allowing them to tap into the possibilities of AI and technology.
What Makes Us Human
AI is becoming increasingly sophisticated, and the question of what it means to be human has never been more pertinent.
The essence of humanity lies in memories, experiences, and emotions — qualities that AI, no matter how advanced, cannot replicate. This serves as a reminder that while technology will continue to progress, human wisdom, shaped by our unique lived experiences, will always play a vital role in shaping the workforce.
As AI becomes more important to daily life, emotional intelligence will remain an indispensable skill. The ability to empathize, collaborate, and think creatively will be key differentiators for humans in the workplace, especially as AI systems become more integrated into everyday tasks.
AI and Job Displacement: A Complicated Conversation
“Will AI ultimately displace human jobs?” “Will it take my job?”
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Everyone is asking it, but not everyone is satisfied by the answer thus far.
AI will ultimately displace human jobs. In fields like radiology, for example, the integration of AI could lead to fewer radiologists, as AI systems take on more diagnostic responsibilities. However, as one panelist pointed out, the number of radiologists is currently higher than ever, and many radiologists now rely on AI tools to assist in their work. Rather than replacing radiologists, AI enhances their ability to diagnose and improve patient outcomes. This collaboration could lead to more accurate diagnoses and better overall healthcare outcomes.
There are also broader societal implications to consider, particularly in terms of how AI will impact job markets globally. While some fear that AI will eliminate jobs, others believe that the technology will open new opportunities for workers to focus on higher-value tasks that require creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence. The challenge, however, lies in preparing workers for these shifts through lifelong learning and skills development.
According to Microsoft and LinkedIn’s Work Trends Index, 66% of business leaders consider AI skills essential for hiring, yet only 25% of companies worldwide offer AI training. To create a fair and supportive workplace, companies should consider providing the necessary resources to help employees develop these skills, ensuring they’re not requiring expertise without offering the tools to build it.
It’s predicted that AI, including generative AI, will boost the global economy by $4.9 trillion in 2030, up from just below $1.2 trillion in 2024. Still, robots can’t be in charge of robots. A human brain will have to make final decisions.
In fact, emotional intelligence (EQ) contributes to 58% of job performance, and 90% of top performers possess high levels of EQ.
AI can’t replicate empathy, intuition, or relationship-building. Workers shouldn’t feel discouraged or depressed just yet, and should instead focus on strengthening your interpersonal skills to stand out and remain irreplaceable in the workplace.
AI and Human Performance: Collaboration Over Replacement
While many fear that AI will replace jobs, the reality is more nuanced. Instead of replacing workers, experts feel as though AI is more likely to enhance human abilities, supercharging productivity and creativity.
Research highlighted during the webinar showed that individuals who collaborate with AI significantly outperform those who do not. For instance, in a study conducted by BCG, consultants who used AI for a relatively straightforward task produced far better results than those who worked without it.
This finding underscores the importance of embracing AI as a tool to augment human capabilities, rather than seeing it as a threat.
Building Resilience in the Face of Change
Building resilience has become a top priority for companies. The panelists discussed how companies can prepare for the unknown by cultivating adaptability within their teams. Resilience, they argued, is not just about future-proofing but about creating systems that can withstand both internal and external disruptions.
This approach is especially important in the context of AI. Organizations see no reason to stop integrating AI into their operations, so the focus should be on ensuring that their workforce is equipped to adapt to technological advancements.
The goal of this should empower individuals to make the personal choice to adopt new technologies, with the understanding that their decisions will shape their career paths and the organization’s success.
The Timeline of Human-AI Collaboration
A key point raised in the discussion was the anticipated timeline for the collaboration between humans and AI. The speakers outlined a three-phase evolution in the workplace: the first phase, which is currently underway, sees a “human plus AI” approach, where human workers utilize AI tools to enhance their capabilities.
The next phase, expected in the coming five to six years, will see a shift to “AI plus human,” where AI takes a more prominent role in decision-making, with humans playing a supporting or oversight role.
Beyond that, the future is less certain, but experts predict that we could be looking at a time when AI surpasses human performance in nearly every domain, especially in areas like general artificial intelligence (AGI) and artificial superintelligence (ASI).
This progression raises questions about what these changes will mean for human workers in practice.
Trust and Human Oversight in AI Decision-Making
Another significant issue is trust in AI systems. While AI can significantly enhance decision-making, the ultimate responsibility for those decisions often remains with humans. The question arises: if AI would have made a better decision, should humans still be held accountable for their choices?
The panelists emphasized the importance of trust in AI and discussed the potential legal and ethical challenges that could arise as AI systems become more integrated into decision-making processes.
This concern is particularly relevant in industries like aviation, where AI has been leveraged for decades in manufacturing and engineering. While AI can identify potential defects in parts, such as those used in airplane engines, the final decision on how to proceed remains in the hands of human engineers — showing the delicate balance between leveraging AI for its data-processing power while maintaining human oversight and accountability.
The Positive Potential of AI
With AI, there is truly the risk of fragmentation, loneliness, and inequality — a scenario that some experts have warned about.
But on the other hand, there is the potential for greater collaboration, where people work together more effectively, share knowledge, and create solutions to global challenges.
Again, companies need to invest in lifelong learning and upskilling to equip employees for future roles, ensuring they aren’t left behind as technology evolves. Workers should hone skills that AI can’t replicate, like emotional intelligence, creativity, and problem-solving.
The future of work, shaped by AI, will be defined not by job losses but by new forms of collaboration, creativity, and human connection.
The future challenge will be to support a mindset of continuous learning, adaptability, and collaboration, ensuring that AI serves to enhance, rather than replace, the uniquely human qualities that drive progress.
