Automating operations, processing data, mapping patterns and profiles, providing customer service, and improving customer experience. These are just a few of the infinite ways in which Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used by the corporate world. A survey conducted by McKinsey showed that organizational interest in using AI has been growing year by year. In 2024, about 72% of companies worldwide were already using the technology in some way, a jump from the 55% recorded the previous year.
In this scenario, where artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly present in the daily life of organizations, one question is inevitable: what remains exclusively human in the future of work? For UniSociesc professor Fernando Luiz Freitas Filho, a doctor in Engineering and Knowledge Management and an education specialist, the secret is not to compete with machines, but to be “more human than ever.”.
“Automation, algorithms, and robots take over tasks previously performed by people, but there is a set of skills that remain irreplaceable, and which will be, more than ever, decisive for those who wish to remain relevant,” comments the expert. He argues that the professional of the future is one who combines technique with sensitivity, someone capable of understanding processes, but also of understanding and inspiring people.
The unshakable human territory
Machines and algorithms have already proven their efficiency in repetitive tasks and, more recently, in cognitive functions such as generating reports and content. However, their operation is fundamentally reactive and based on existing data. True creation is still the exclusive domain of the human mind.
“Genuine creativity, which conceives truly new ideas and not just recombinations of what has already been done, is a frontier that AI has not yet crossed. Similarly, the capacity for deep collaboration, for building relationships of trust, and for engaging teams through motivation and inspiration are irreplaceable human characteristics,” points out the professor.
Continuous learning, connection, and collaboration: the value of the human
A study conducted by Dell Technologies in partnership with the Institute for the Future estimates that 85% of the jobs that will exist in 2030 have not yet been created. Given this data, the ability to “learn to learn” – or metacognition – becomes the anchor for professional relevance. “The focus should shift from the static accumulation of knowledge to the agility in assimilating new knowledge and adapting to emerging tools, such as generative artificial intelligence itself,” recommends the professor.
In this context, AI should be seen not as a rival, but as a strategic ally. “Using it to create study guides, explore new subjects, or optimize processes is an intelligent use of technology to free up time and mental capacity for tasks that essentially demand humanity,” he comments.
At the same time, in times of digital hyperconnectivity, genuine human connection becomes a scarce asset. For Fernando, the future of work will require more than networking: it will demand real collaboration, the exchange of experiences, and collective building. “It is essential to create bonds that are not merely for commercial interest. Being in groups and associations to learn, contribute, and cooperate is what strengthens relationships and broadens one's worldview.”
Among the skills that will gain the most prominence, Fernando points out two: cognitive flexibility and emotional flexibility. The first concerns openness to new ideas, points of view, and knowledge. “It is the ability to listen to different opinions and seek multiple sources before forming one's own conclusion.”
Emotional flexibility, on the other hand, is linked to empathy and tolerance. “It is knowing how to talk to those who think differently without hostility, understanding opposing views, and building something through dialogue.”
Emotions and purpose: the human side of productivity
From the educator's perspective, technology should be used to improve the quality of life, not just to increase productivity. “What good is having an automated world, with robots and AI doing everything, if we remain stressed, exhausted, and without purpose?” he questions.
He cites the principles of the so-called “science of happiness,” which include positive emotions, engagement, meaningful relationships, purpose, and accomplishments. “When we do something we enjoy, in a healthy environment, with supportive colleagues, work gains meaning. This is impossible to program into a machine.”.
More than efficiency, the companies of the future will need to cultivate humanity, creating spaces that value well-being and balance. This is what differentiates a basically productive team from a creative and innovative one.
The future is human
AI is a powerful tool, but it still depends on human direction to make sense. It organizes data, suggests paths, executes tasks, but the one who defines the purpose, who decides the why, is always the human being.
For Professor Fernando, the professional of the future will be the one who unites the best of both worlds: the precision of machines and the sensitivity of people. “Machines were made to make life easier, not to replace it. The role of technology is to help us be more productive and, above all, happier. In the age of artificial intelligence, the differentiator will be increasingly natural: emotional intelligence,” he concludes.
