3 Essential Skills for Living in a World Dominated by AI

We are on the brink of an era where artificial intelligence (AI) will take over many of the functions traditionally handled by humans. In the near future, AI will manage various aspects of life, including corporate sectors. The success of this integration remains uncertain, and it is unclear how the first experiences will unfold.

We are on the brink of an era where artificial intelligence (AI) will take over many of the functions traditionally handled by humans. In the near future, AI will manage various aspects of life, including corporate sectors. The success of this integration remains uncertain, and it is unclear how the first experiences will unfold.

However, experts from universities and business schools agree that three key skills will emerge as the most important. These skills will be crucial for achieving success in the near future.

Curiosity

Acquiring information is a process of moving from one question to another. It is not only important to ask the right questions but also to choose the appropriate tone and formulation. This will determine the quality of the information received. Even now, we encounter this in our daily lives, even without interacting with AI.

Some people still struggle to use search engines effectively. Long or abstract queries often lead to a sea of irrelevant information.

Working with AI will be somewhat different. Persistence will be crucial—being able to rephrase, slightly adjust the tone, and ask the same question 10 or 100 times. Openness of mind will also be important, allowing for the consideration of alternative information that significantly differs from the expected results. This openness will help expand the scope of the search.

For instance, asking an advanced AI like ChatGPT 4.5 two questions: "How will search engines change in the future?" and "How will search engines change in the future if more users switch to LLMs, abandoning current tools?" will yield different levels of responses. The first question will provide a simple list of data, while the second will offer a more detailed answer with expanded context. Mastering the art of asking such questions will be crucial in interacting with AI.

Understanding

Data can be found everywhere: gathered independently, obtained externally, or compiled from existing volumes. Statistics, graphs, charts, and tables are readily accessible.

Soon, AI will fully occupy this niche, leaving humans to analyze and interpret the data. This will become one of the most important skills for future managers. As anticipated, AI will handle the routine tasks, while humans will focus on more intellectual work. Data itself will become less important compared to the decisions made based on it. AI will find and gather whatever is requested, but only a human operator will understand how to use this information most effectively.

Understanding data does not always have a purely technical aspect. Each company or industry has its own features related to the human factor. The most complete, accurate, and timely data will become a commodity that is useless without an employee capable of translating it into human-readable terms. Business schools and consulting firms are already training people to understand data.

For example, call center employees start cold calls by asking questions to potential clients before moving on to a presentation. This way, they gather data, gain insight into the person they are speaking with, and develop an effective engagement strategy.

When interacting with AI, data will become even more crucial, although the situation will change somewhat. You will need to decide what information to provide to AI to ensure it understands your needs accurately.

Responsibility

AI is merely a tool, devoid of emotions, feelings, ambitions, and career aspirations. It performs assigned tasks, and its effectiveness depends on the operator, who must take responsibility for the outcome.

In other words, if incorrect conclusions are drawn based on the data provided to AI, it is the human's fault. Conversely, a responsible approach to work, thoughtful and well-considered decision-making will be the most important skill. Although these qualities are valuable today, in a world dominated by AI, there will be a desire to delegate as many functions as possible to it.

Many will seek a carefree life that becomes more accessible than ever before. This introduces a new level of responsibility for how well AI is trained. There is a direct interdependence here: a responsible operator invests time in improving AI, resulting in more accurate data that meets the needs of individuals or companies.

An irresponsible operator using the same version of AI will fall behind, receiving unrepresentative samples and outdated charts. Eventually, they will leave, leaving behind an underdeveloped AI that needs to be rebuilt from scratch.

It is noticeable that the skills needed to succeed in an AI-driven world are not much different from those of modern leaders. However, they have a significant distinction in the new type of personal assistant, which will no longer be a secretary, several managers, or an entire analytical department, but rather a digital replica of the owner—either as intelligent and useful or as foolish and pointless.